District 9 Councilman Announces Proposal to Install Life-Saving ‘Baby Boxes’ at Safe Haven Locations

September 6, 2022 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Co-Editor | San Antonio Sentinel

On Friday, District 9 Councilman John Courage, with fellow community leaders, announced a proposal to explore the installation of newborn safety devices at designated Safe Haven locations.

Between 2018 and March 2022, there were 59 cases of babies surrendered at Safe Haven sites, according to the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, and 172 in Texas since 2009. The number of safe and legal surrenders has decreased in recent years while the cases of severe child abuse and abandoned babies in dangerous conditions has increased. 

“The decision to surrender a newborn child must be an excruciating experience in a period of desperation,” said Courage during a Sept. 2 press conference. “These ‘baby boxes’ would allow parents to safely leave their infant quickly and anonymously while removing the barrier of fear and embarrassment that comes with a face-to-face interaction. Unplanned pregnancies will likely increase because of newly restricted women’s healthcare options.”

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales stood alongside Courage on the day of the press conference. 

“As district attorney, I am dedicated to protecting the rights of everyone in our community, especially women, children, and LGBTQ+ individuals who may have their rights threatened,” Gonzales said. “Women who find themselves in a desperate situation should not fear prosecution for appropriately utilizing a responsible and safe option to surrender a baby. When used appropriately and as described in this CCR (City Council Consideration Request), utilizing a Safe Haven baby box does not meet the elements of abandoning or endangering a child in Texas and is not a crime. This initiative will protect children.” 

In jurisdictions where they are allowed, these safety devices are created to maintain an optimal environment for the care of an infant and must meet certain requirements. 

For starters, the boxes must be physically located inside a Safe Haven site that is staffed 24 hours a day by a medical services provider. This could include a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department. The site should be able to provide a controlled environment for the care and protection of the child. 

The placement of the boxes should allow for a child to be placed anonymously from outside the facility. 

The devices should lock after a child is placed in it so an individual outside the facility cannot access the baby. 

A notification to a centralized location in the facility would be sent within 30 seconds of a child being placed in the device. 

The boxes should also be in an area visible to the employees of the Safe Haven site. 

If staff at the facility do not respond with a reasonable amount of time after the child is placed in the device, the box would trigger a 911 call. 

“Safe surrender locations are the last resort for a mother or family and a renewed chance for an infant,” said Courage. “Unfortunately, we have no doubt these anonymous surrender locations will be needed to save lives.”

Jade Esteban Estrada is a co-editor for the San Antonio Sentinel. jade@sasentinel.com | IG: @satxwriter