Howard Fire Rescue's Safe Haven Baby Box from the inside of the station. PC: Fox 11 Online
STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Northeast Wisconsin is getting another Safe Haven Baby Box.
Officials have authorized the placement of a box in Sturgeon Bay, according to a news release Friday from State Rep. Joel Kitchens, who represents Door, Kewaunee and parts of Brown County.
“If this new Safe Haven Baby Box saves one child, it will be worth the investment,” Kitchens said in the release. “I am especially grateful to Mayor David Ward, the Sturgeon Bay City Council, Fire Chief Kalin Montevideo and the Knights of Columbus for their advocacy and tireless work in making this happen.”
Designed with innovative safety features, baby boxes provide parents in crisis with a secure, compassionate and anonymous way to surrender custody of their newborns. The temperature-controlled boxes are installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals staffed 24/7. When an infant is placed inside the box, its outer door locks automatically and a silent alarm sounds to alert medical personnel. An interior door then allows officials to promptly retrieve the baby, ensuring immediate care and protection.
“Back in 2023, a baby was left in a field in Whitewater. I was approached by three Ob-Gyn doctors from Door County Medical Center, who wanted to prevent another tragedy,” Kitchens said.
Being a parent in ideal circumstances is tough. For some in rough situations, it can feel impossible. Now, we will have a safe and legal way to put a child up for adoption, no questions asked.
Kitchens said Wisconsin is one of at least 14 states to have an anonymous 24/7 drop-off law for newborns. In its most recent session, the Wisconsin Legislature unanimously extended the age of a child that can be dropped off from up to 72 hours old to 30 days. Several states have already made this change.
With the addition of the Sturgeon Bay location, there will be eight total Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Wisconsin. The others are in Howard, Reedsburg, Watertown, Racine, Elkhorn, Whitewater and Trevor. In October, a newborn was surrendered in the Racine baby box.
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