JEFFERSON CITY — Mid-Missouri’s first Safe Haven Baby Box will soon be available at the Cole County EMS headquarters in Jefferson City, providing a secure and anonymous option for parents in crisis to safely surrender their newborns.
The Cole County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department has partnered with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, a nonprofit organization that installs climate-controlled, secure boxes for emergency infant relinquishment. The boxes are designed to be used by parents who wish to safely give up their babies without facing prosecution.
Eric Hoy, Chief of Cole County EMS, said the initiative was inspired by a task force that presented the idea to the Jefferson City Public Safety Committee earlier this year. After discussing the concept with the Pregnancy Help Center and other local public safety departments, they selected the EMS department’s new building on Adams Street as the location for the box.
“We’re currently working on securing the necessary funding, and we expect to make an announcement within the next couple of weeks,” Hoy said.
Once a baby is placed in the box, it automatically locks, and an alarm is triggered to alert emergency personnel. The baby is then retrieved and transported to a hospital, where they will receive medical care and be connected to foster care resources.
“Our goal is to provide more resources for families in crisis, which can help lead to better outcomes for everyone involved,” Hoy explained.
Under Missouri’s Safe Place for Newborns Law, parents can legally surrender an infant up to 45 days old without facing legal consequences, as long as the child is unharmed. Babies can be left at hospitals, fire stations, or law enforcement agencies.
Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, was inspired to create the initiative after learning about her own experience of being abandoned as an infant in 1973. “I turned my pain into something positive for others,” Kelsey said.
After seeing a similar program in Cape Town, South Africa, Kelsey brought the concept to the United States, where it has expanded to over 14 states. Missouri’s first Safe Haven Baby Box opened in Mehlville in August 2023. A baby girl was safely surrendered there in February 2024.
“Six months ago, I made a pledge to any woman who would have the courage to make such a difficult decision that we wouldn’t let her down,” said Brian Hendricks, Fire Chief of Mehlville, at the time.
The Jefferson City box will be the second in Missouri. Although the city is still in the early stages of planning, Cole County EMS is aiming to have the box operational by mid-2025.
To fund the installation, the county is working to raise $25,000. Of that amount, $15,000 will go toward the box itself, and the rest will cover maintenance costs. The Pregnancy Help Center has already pledged significant support for the fundraising efforts.
“The Pregnancy Help Center has committed funds, so we’re confident that a large portion of the goal will be met,” Hoy said. “However, we still need help from the community to cover ongoing maintenance and installation costs.”
As a father, Hoy expressed his pride in bringing the Safe Haven Baby Box to Jefferson City. He encourages any parent in need to reach out for help. “Our mission is to care for those in need, and this is just one more way we can do that,” Hoy added.
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