Bloomington's second Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station #2. (Donnie Burgess, WFIU/WTIU News)
Bloomington now has two Safe Haven baby boxes.
The boxes allow those who cannot care for a newborn to place the baby in a secure, temperature-controlled, ventilated box, usually at fire and police stations.
Once a baby is placed inside and the door is closed, it automatically locks and alerts emergency services.
People who surrender their newborns are kept anonymous and protected from legal consequences, per Indiana’s Safe Haven Law.
From 2017: First newborn surrendered using baby box in Indiana
Bloomington’s newest baby box is at Fire Station #2 at 209 S. Fairfield Dr. It was funded by a $10,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which awarded the money to the Bloomington Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health unit last March.
It's the 345th baby box in the United States.
Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said you may not agree with someone choosing this path, but it gives a child a greater chance of surviving and thriving.
“If it's a safe journey for the mom and the child, we all should be thankful that this is what she did choose, because we've seen the stories across America where babies haven't made it,” Kelsey said.
Related: “Better than we could have asked”: Couple shares baby box adoption story
Mayor Kerry Thomson said expanding available baby boxes on two sides of the city allows improved access for people going through tough times.
“We are creating a resource for parents in their most difficult moments to ensure, ensure that their children have the best possible paths in life,” Thomson said.
The baby box at Fire Station #1, 300 E. Fourth St., has reopened and is available to the public. It was temporarily closed in 2021 after the station flooded.
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