A third infant has been safely surrendered at the Safe Haven Baby Box in Hobbs, New Mexico, demonstrating the program’s growing success in providing a secure alternative for mothers in crisis.
At a Glance
- A third newborn has been surrendered at the Hobbs Safe Haven Baby Box since its installation in May 2023
- The program provides anonymous, legal surrender options for parents unable to care for their infants
- Baby boxes are equipped with alarm systems that alert first responders within minutes
- The initiative was influenced by a 2022 incident where a newborn was abandoned in a dumpster in Hobbs
- Nationwide, 58 infants have been safely surrendered through the Safe Haven Baby Box program since 2017
Third Successful Surrender at Hobbs Location
The Safe Haven Baby Box in Hobbs, New Mexico has received its third infant surrender since opening in May 2023, marking continued success for this life-saving program. Located at 301 East White Street, the surrender box provides parents in crisis a secure, climate-controlled environment to safely and anonymously surrender their newborns.
The recently surrendered infant received immediate medical attention before being placed in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, following the established protocol for these situations.
The Safe Haven Baby Box program represents a crucial alternative to dangerous infant abandonment. Each box is equipped with three silent alarms that alert first responders when a baby is placed inside, ensuring the child receives attention within five minutes.
The door automatically locks after the infant is placed inside, securing the baby until emergency personnel arrive. This technology has proven effective across multiple locations, with the Hobbs site showing particular success in its short operational history.
Installing baby boxes has become increasingly popular as lawmakers look for ways to show support for pregnant women and new parents. But experts and adoption advocates argue that baby boxes are a gimmick unsupported by scientific research. https://t.co/cm8i46OFbe
— Source New Mexico || bsky @sourcenm.com (@source_nm) March 4, 2024
A Community Response to Crisis
The establishment of the Hobbs Baby Box came in direct response to a tragic incident in January 2022, when a newborn was found abandoned in a dumpster after being left there for six hours. This event catalyzed community action to prevent similar situations by providing safe surrender options for parents in crisis.
New Mexico’s Safe Haven Act allows for the legal surrender of babies up to 90 days old at designated locations without criminal charges, but the baby box adds an important layer of anonymity that many desperate parents seek.
According to the Founder Monica Kelsey: “In January 2022, an infant was found in a dumpster 6 hours after his desperate mother placed him there. Today, this community is radically changed by the availability of an option for safe anonymous surrender. Three mothers have selflessly used this location now in under 2 years since the box was blessed and available for parents in crisis. We are pleased to see this community turn the tide on infant abandonment. Mothers in crisis are seeking anonymity; we know this and have seen our boxes’ tremendous impact on communities. This birth mother loved her infant, and we are proud of her selflessness.”
Hobbs Fire Chief Mark Doporto has been a strong advocate for the program, emphasizing how it provides a humane option for parents unable to care for their newborns. First responders generally prefer this method of surrender over alternatives that might place infants at risk. The baby box in Hobbs has become a model for other communities in New Mexico, with another box already operational in Belen and others likely to follow given the demonstrated success of the program.
A Growing National Movement
The Safe Haven Baby Box organization, founded in 2016 by Monica Kelsey, continues to expand its reach across the United States. Kelsey, who was herself abandoned as an infant, has dedicated her life to preventing infant abandonment through safe alternatives. Since 2017, 58 infants have been safely surrendered through the organization’s baby boxes, with more than 160 additional surrenders resulting from calls to their National Safe Haven hotline, which provides free confidential counseling to parents in crisis.
“As a father and first responder, this is the alternative we want to see. We much rather see a patient surrendered through a baby box than any other means. This is the safest and most anonymous way to surrender a child,” said Hobbs Fire Chief Mark Doporto.
For surrendered infants, parental rights are typically terminated within 30 to 45 days, after which the children are placed with families intending to adopt. This process ensures these children find permanent, loving homes while respecting the difficult decisions made by their birth parents. The Safe Haven Baby Box program continues to be the only organization in the United States providing truly anonymous surrender options for mothers in crisis, filling a critical gap in child welfare services and saving lives one baby at a time.
