By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The founder of Safe Haven Baby Box says three newborns in Indiana were turned over to authorities in a recent five-day period.
One was in Elkhart County and another in Indianapolis.
Monica Kelsey, founder of the Auburn-based group, says a third happened in northern Indiana and that that case is too recent to release details about.
Kelsey said she thinks the program is set for a strong year and credits the group’s marketing effort, which has included billboards along US 30 and elsewhere in recent years.
“We’ve never had this happen like this before,” Kelsey said about the quick succession of turnovers.
“We have done an amazing job here in Indiana of educating our youth,” She said. “We do a huge awareness campaign and I would think that’s probably where the success lies is through the education of these kids we’re reaching.”
Since the program began in 2017, 26 babies have been placed in a Baby Box in Indiana. There are 96 Baby Boxes in Indiana and 136 Baby Boxes in the nation.
A Baby Box is a safety device provided under the Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender their child if they are unable to care for their newborn.
Warsaw and Syracuse both have baby boxes at local fire departments.
Learn more about the program by clicking here.
