THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands has unveiled the Houston area’s first Safe Haven baby box, offering mothers a safe, legal, and anonymous way to surrender their infants under the Safe Haven law, also known as the Baby Moses law.
The box is located at the Woodlands Fire Station Six, at 1100 Windsor Lakes Blvd.
The Safe Haven law allows parents who are unable to care for their babies to safely and anonymously leave them in a designated location without fear of legal repercussions.
This new initiative comes in response to an alarming increase in abandoned baby cases in Harris County in 2024. Local news outlet KPRC 2 reported on six such incidents from June through September, at least two of which resulted in infant fatalities.
Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, highlighted the importance of the new service. “We need to keep up with the times. Many young parents don’t want to face questions or be identified. They prefer a quick, anonymous solution,” Kelsey explained.
When a baby is placed in the box, the door automatically locks, and a sensor notifies firefighters of the situation. The box is equipped with a temperature-regulating system to ensure the infant’s safety.
“Our firefighters are focused solely on ensuring the baby is safe,” said Buck, a local fire official. “They’re not concerned with finding out who placed the baby there. Their only priority is the child’s well-being.”
The cities of Magnolia, Spring, and Tomball have announced plans to install similar boxes, with each unit costing approximately $15,000.
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