Number of baby boxes in Indiana continues to increase

Indiana’s 86th child field, the place newborns may be anonymously surrendered, is open. 

The Protected Haven Child Field group was based by Monica Kelsey in 2016.  The most recent child field opened in Elwood this week marks one other milestone for Kelsey.

“I’ll inform you I stand on the frontlines of this motion making certain that each mom has a protected possibility to put her new child within the arms of a firefighter with only a bassinet in between,” Kelsey mentioned.

The primary child field was put in in 2016 in Woodburn Indiana.  A lot of the electronically monitored, temperature-controlled containers are put in on the edges of fireplace stations.  Most are additionally funded via non-public church donations.

A current surge in surrenders this yr contains three infants at a Carmel station. Kelsey mentioned there are at the moment dozens extra containers within the works.

The rise within the variety of containers comes as Indiana lawmakers work to ban most abortions and as Hoosier girls will quickly discover fewer choices within the occasion of an undesirable being pregnant.

READ MORE: Indiana Senate committee provides extra restrictions to its practically whole abortion ban

Elwood Hearth Division Chief Mark Sullivan mentioned they’re comfortable to have this feature for girls in his small city. “That is simply one other software in our field,” he mentioned.

Seven states now have the containers.  Indiana’s Protected Haven legislation permits anybody 30 days to give up a new child.

Contact WFYI metropolis authorities and coverage reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Comply with on Twitter: @JillASheridan.