A new Safe Haven Baby Box has been installed at the Windsor Heights Public Safety Building in central Iowa, following a blessing ceremony held Monday. The baby box allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender their unborn children. When a baby is placed inside, 911 is immediately dispatched, and the infant is taken to a hospital for evaluation before being placed in foster care to prepare for adoption.

Parents are not required to provide any personal information during the process. The Knights of Columbus led the fundraising efforts for the Windsor Heights baby box. Iowa’s Safe Haven law allows parents to surrender babies up to 90 days old at hospitals, police stations, and fire stations.

Safe Haven Law

The law was updated in 2023 to permit the installation of baby boxes. Currently, there are Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Norwalk, and Windsor Heights. Fundraising is underway to install a fifth box in Newton.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.