A new Safe Haven Baby Box will be dedicated in Florence, Kentucky on July 31, offering parents a secure and anonymous way to legally surrender infants. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at 8101 Dream Street.
This initiative places Florence among more than 370 locations across the United States that provide these resources, with 56 of them in Kentucky. The project was realized through the efforts of the City of Florence Administration and the Florence Fire/EMS District, who saw the need for such an option in their community.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes was founded by Monica Kelsey to address infant abandonment. The organization also operates a confidential national hotline (1-866-99BABY1) that offers support and information to parents in crisis. Kelsey stated, “We have seen time and time again that preparation can save and change lives. We never know when or where we will be needed, so it is crucial to have options for mothers in crisis. I am grateful for local advocates who take our mission to their community.”
Since 2017, there have been 63 infants safely surrendered using baby boxes nationwide, along with another 153 handoff surrenders through the hotline. After being surrendered, each infant is placed with a registered foster-to-adopt family in coordination with local departments of family services.
The City of Florence described its participation as part of a larger effort aimed at saving lives and providing hope and support to families facing difficult situations.
