A baby girl was safely surrendered on August 10 in a Safe Haven Baby Box at Mehlville Fire House 2 in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the second use of this box since its installation in 2023.
Crews responded immediately to care for the healthy newborn, who is now in the custody of the Missouri Department of Social Services.
While this event took place in Missouri, it highlights the importance of Safe Havens across the U.S.—including Massachusetts—where parents facing overwhelming circumstances have a safe, legal way to surrender a newborn.
In Massachusetts, the Baby Safe Haven Act allows parents to surrender a newborn 7 days old or younger at hospital emergency rooms, manned fire stations, and police departments
Staffed personnel receive the infant, provide immediate medical attention, and contact the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The child is then placed in a pre-adoptive or foster home, ensuring long-term safety and stability.
Every parent in crisis deserves a compassionate, lifesaving option, and Massachusetts Safe Havens provides exactly that.