Safe Haven Baby Boxes began 2026 with three surrenders and several new baby box devices installed in different states. The number of surrenders and boxes continue to grow, with new locations in states already employing the infant-life-saving devices and other states receiving the first one.
On March 17, Nolensville, Tenn., was the site of a new baby box at a hospital emergency room, and two days later, another was dedicated in Missouri. Earlier in the month, a fire station in the northern part of St. Louis dedicated the first Safe Haven Baby Box in that area, and in latter February, South Dakota placed its first baby box in the state.
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South Dakota welcomes first Safe Haven Baby Box
Like many states’ Safe Haven laws, South Dakota parents can relinquish their babies at places like fire stations, hospitals, and police departments. The South Dakota law allowed such legal relinquishments until the infant is 60 days old.
The implementation of a Safe Haven Baby Box came about after an abandoned baby, christened Gabriel James, was found deceased at a Sioux Falls recycling facility in 2024. The story captured the community and the state, and the following year, the legislature passed a bill allowing baby boxes to be used as a place of safety and anonymity for mothers who feel they cannot care for their babies. The governor signed the measure.
The dedication of South Dakota’s first baby box at Fire Station 1 in Rapid City brought Sioux Falls community members hundreds of miles west to the dedication ceremony. About 100 people attended, including the state’s governor and the town’s mayor, according to Rapid City Fire Chief Jason Culberson.
“It’s making an impact in South Dakota,” said Monica Kelsey, founder and president of Safe Haven baby Boxes.
“A fire station is a safe place, and we’re honored by that trust,” Culberson said. “Moms can drop off newborn babies anytime, although we’ve never had that,” he said. “And thank goodness we’ve never had any abandoned period [in Rapid City]. When the law changed about two years ago, it allowed for the use of baby boxes in the state of South Dakota.”
People in the community rallied around the idea, and last year, when Fire Station 1 underwent renovations and additions, a Safe Haven baby Box was incorporated, he said.
“We thought it was a great idea,” Culberson told Pregnancy Help News. “It fit in perfectly for us [during the remodel]. It’s a final line of defense, allowing a mom a way to ensure her newborn is taken care of.”
South Dakota became the 21st state to implement Safe Haven Baby Boxes. The towns of Mitchell and Sioux Falls may be next to add baby boxes in the state.
“When I started baby boxes, I wanted to make something and see what stuck,” said Kelsey. ‘I knew it was a great idea, but I didn't know what I was doing because this isn't my line of work – I’ve never built boxes before, and now we're getting so large that we’re expanding.”
Safe Haven Laws
Although all states have safe haven laws, they vary. For example, some give parents only a few days for safe relinquishment – Colorado and Wisconsin are examples, allowing a parent to safely relinquish their baby for a few days without prosecution. However, Wisconsin’s law recently changed after the legislature amended that state’s Safe Haven law by expanding the length of time for legal relinquishment, increasing from three days to 30 days.
Another difference in state laws includes the fact not all allow the anonymity that baby boxes provide. Many laws require a face-to-face relinquishment, whether to a hospital staff member, a law enforcement officer, or a fire department/EMS official. Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow for that anonymous aspect, which, according to Kelsey, is often what women need.
“We give options, and the baby box is a final option for parents going through crisis,” Kelsey said.
Some safe haven laws hinder the establishment of baby boxes, she said. For example, the state of North Dakota’s law allows relinquishment of infants up to a year old. However, Safe Haven Baby Boxes are not constructed to safely receive a child that large, therefore, Kelsey’s organization cannot install devices in that state.
“We like to work with states and communities,” Kelsey said. “But we can't work right now in North Dakota, or we need to try to figure out a way to where we can design a box that would be okay for a one-year-old to be placed in.”
She encourages legislators and community members to reach out to her organization as they craft or modify safe haven laws to include baby boxes.
“Anybody that wants to add these [boxes] to their states, please contact us,” she said. “We don't want you trying to reinvent the wheel. We know all the arguments that the other side is going to throw, and we know what the language needs to say so that we can come into a state and work.”
More babies surrendered, more boxes in more places
In early March, Safe Haven Baby Boxes staff announced the 76th surrender of an infant through the baby box program, which began more than 10 years ago.
States are also experiencing safe relinquishments through medical facilities and fire stations. For example, South Carolina has experienced three surrenders already in 2026. In 2025, eight babies were safely surrendered in that state.
The growth of Safe Haven Baby Boxes in new areas also continues this year. In addition to Rapid City, S.D., a baby box has been funded to be installed at Weiser Memorial Hospital in western Idaho, near the Oregon border. Oregon is a pro-abortion state, with an abortion clinic in Ontario that performs abortions up to almost 14 weeks. This will be the third Safe Haven baby Box in Idaho and the only one within 300 miles.
More states and communities will add Safe Haven Baby Boxes this year as well.
“We're going to be launching in New Hampshire and we're going to be launching in Maine, so it's two more locations, two more states,” Kelsey told Pregnancy Help News. “There are a lot of things happening.”
Tweet This: More states and communities will add Safe Haven Baby Boxes this year.
She credits the Lord for the advances made with baby boxes.
“We are working hard at the baby box camp to give these resources to moms all over this country, and I think it's no surprise how far we've come because of Him and how far we're going to go because of Him as well,” Kelsey said. “He’s in charge, not me.”
