The community is invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, at Fire Station 1, 321 W. Woodruff Ave.
“This installation marks Crestview as the third location in the state of Florida to adopt this critical service,” city officials said today in a news release. “It joins Ocala and Newberry in the mission to provide a safe, anonymous option for mothers in crisis to surrender their newborns. The Safe Haven Baby Box is part of a broader effort to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law and support women in crisis with a 24-hour hotline offering free counseling and assistance.”
As of July 1 of this year, a parent can anonymously leave a newborn infant who is less than 30 days old at a hospital, emergency medical services station or fire station that is staffed 24/7, according to city information. Except in cases of actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, the identity of the parent who leaves a newborn infant is confidential and a criminal investigation shall not be initiated.
This past July, the City Council approved a five-year lease and service agreement with the Woodburn, Indiana-based Safe Haven Baby Boxes nonprofit organization that provided the box. The box is on an exterior wall at Crestview’s Fire Communications Center, which is manned 24/7 and located at Fire Station 1.
The Safe Haven Baby Box is a climate-controlled safety device that legally permits a mother in crisis to surrender her unwanted newborn safely, securely, and anonymously, according to information from the SHBB organization.
“The parent opens the door to the Baby Box, which triggers a silent alarm, and a call goes to 911 dispatch,” SHBB officials said on their website. “The infant is placed in a medical bassinet. A sensor located on the inside of the box triggers a second 911 dispatch call. The exterior door automatically locks upon placement of a newborn. Within five minutes, the infant will be rescued by first responders. An interior door allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building. The infant will be quickly taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.”
According to the council-approved lease and service agreement, the city will pay an initial fee of $15,000 to SHBB. Each year, the city must pay a $500 annual fee to SHBB, and every five years a renewal fee of at least $500 is due to the organization.
Other costs include installation and annual monitoring service costs. Brown, who a few years ago initiated the idea of having the box in Crestview, is providing $5,000 from her council discretionary fund to the initiative.
To help pay for the box, the OLV Knights of Columbus are hosting a fish fry fundraiser from 4-7:30 p.m. this Friday at 701 E. James Lee Blvd., adjacent to Twin Hills Park.
Pricing is set at $13 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12. Children under 6 eat free. Cash or card payment will be accepted.