The city of Opelika installed a Safe Haven Baby Box Monday, making it the ninth baby box to be installed in Alabama.
“The Safe Haven Baby Box provides a critical resource to our community, especially for the most delicate of our numbers,” said Opelika Fire Chief Shane Boyd. “We hope if ever the situation calls for use of the Safe Haven location at Fire Station 1, any family in crisis can be assured their child will be cared for by the trained hands of the Opelika Fire Department.”
Moms in crisis may anonymously surrender their newborns in a Safe Haven Baby Box. The infants are then transported to the hospital, and the state works to find them a home.
The Alabama legislature passed a bill in the 2023 regular session to allow mothers to surrender babies legally for up to 45 days after birth.
Boyd said the city is committed to ensuring no child is left without care and no mother without options.
East Alabama Health partnered with the city and Kids to Love to install the box.
Opelika Fire Station 1 is located at 604 Avenue B.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
