Franciscan Health Rensselaer Held Blessing And Dedication For Safe Haven Baby Box In May 2021

RENSSELAER, Indiana - Today, Franciscan Health held a blessing and dedication for a Safe Haven Baby Box at its Rensselaer campus. The device allows mothers in crisis to safely and anonymously surrender their infant to hospital staff.

"We're excited to have a Safe Haven Baby Box at Franciscan Health Rensselaer. This device is the first of its kind in Rensselaer and we believe it is directly in line with the core values of our organization, including respect for life," said Carlos Vasquez, chief operating officer, Franciscan Health Rensselaer.

The Safe Haven Baby Box will be available to new mothers who wish to utilize Indiana's Safe Haven Law, which enables a person to surrender an infant anonymously without fear of arrest or prosecution. The use of the Safe Haven Baby Box is a last resort for women in crisis.

The baby box at Franciscan Health Rensselaer, located at 1104 East Grace Street, is discreetly located outside the Emergency Department entrance. The box is heated and air-conditioned with its own ventilation. When the box is used, a silent alarm will sound so that staff can immediately tend to the baby.

The installation of the Safe Haven Baby Box is made possible by generous donations from numerous community members, Knights of Columbus and the fundraising efforts of Kent Hamstra. "We want to give special thanks to the local individuals and businesses who, through their compassion and support, have provided the resources to purchase and install the Safe Haven Baby Box here at Franciscan Health Rensselaer," commented Sandy Howarth, executive director of the Franciscan Health Foundation in Western Indiana.

Kent Hamstra, a lifelong resident of Jasper County, had heard about the Safe Haven Baby Box project on the news and saw that they'd been installed in surrounding areas but not Jasper County. The idea resonated with him and he felt one should be available in his community. He was inspired to reach out to Franciscan Health.

"After a meeting and tour with Mr. Vasquez and Mrs. Howarth, I began raising money for the project, contacting family and friends, speaking in local churches and getting the word out on social media. I, like the Franciscan Health Foundation, believe that human life bears the image of God from the moment of conception and is infinitely valuable," stated Mr. Hamstra.

Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Box Inc. was inspired to create her organization because of her own life experience. Kelsey's biological mother became pregnant after a rape and, after her birth, abandoned her at a hospital. She was adopted and says today her parents are her biggest supporters. "I can tell you every child is wanted by someone," she said. "This allows for any mother in this community 100 percent anonymity. There is no shame. There is no blaming," said Kelsey. This Safe Haven Baby Box will be the 71st baby box in the country and the 62nd in the state of Indiana.

Kelsey has worked to educate others on the Safe Haven Law and introduce use of the baby boxes. So far, she's brought the boxes to four states - Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Arkansas - and she has the goal of making the baby boxes legal in all 50 states by the year 2025. She said that her organization is working to spread the word to the public about the baby boxes through a billboard campaign and social media.

For more information about Safe Haven Baby Box locations or to speak to a licensed counselor, call the National Safe Haven hotline at 866-99BABY1 (866-992-2291).