PC: Fox 11 Online
HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) — The Howard Fire Department will soon be home to the fourth Safe Haven Baby Box in the state of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s Safe Haven Baby Box bill was signed into law in 2023; allowing hospitals and fire and police stations to install ventilated, temperature-controlled “baby boxes” in outside walls. It’s an expansion of the 2001 safe haven law.
Safe Haven Baby Box’s mission is to be a last resort option for surrendering a child safely with complete anonymity.
Howard Fire Department Chief, Dennis Staeven, explained how the boxes work.
“When the door opens, it triggers an alarm that goes out to 911. There’s also a reflective beam in there that triggers a secondary alarm in the station in 60 seconds,” said Staeven. “There’s also a security camera so we can verify that there is a child there.”
Fire department personnel are able to obtain the baby within two minutes. Then, the child is then taken to the hospital and appropriate authorities are called.
Staeven says as long as the baby is within three days old, and there are no signs of abuse or trauma to the baby, there is no legal action against the parents.
Additionally, there is information and resources inside the Safe Haven Baby Box for the person in crisis. This includes information on court processes to regain custody of the child, and ways to establish contact in the future.
An official dedication of the Safe Haven Baby Box will happen on Saturday, January 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Howard Fire Department (2456 Glendale Ave.) Bishop David Ricken with the Diocese of Green Bay will bless the box, and representatives from Howard Fire Rescue, Safe Haven Baby Boxes and the Knights of Columbus will speak about the project.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at the Howard Fire Department is donated by the Knights of Columbus at Saint John the Baptist Church in Howard.
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