DECATUR, Ala. — Shortly after the City of Madison became the first in Alabama to set up a "Safe Haven" baby box, Decatur city council members on Monday approved the initial investment necessary to become the next. The boxes are specially-designed areas for mothers wishing to separate from their newborn children to do so in a legal and safe manner.
According to the resolution adopted Monday, the city will authorize $3,500 payable to the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation, which incorporates initial startup funds and a $500 annual stipend, for the Safe Haven box. The resolution says the "program serves a public purpose and enhances the general well-being of our city."
A location for the box was not immediately designated. At a previous council meeting, Mayor Tab Bowling suggested the most appropriate place would be at Decatur Morgan Hospital or one of its associated properties.
In Madison, two children were surrendered anonymously through the baby box within days of its grand opening.
According to Alabama DHR, when a baby is surrendered in a baby safety device, the child must be taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the local county DHR must be notified. DHR takes immediate care, custody and control of the infant. DHR will then follow its process to find a proper placement for the child.
This corrects an earlier version of this story in which there were errors about how the child is cared for after they are placed in the box.
The box is not able to be reopened by a civilian once the system senses it has been re-closed.
The City of Decatur says the money for the box setup costs will come from the General Fund's Unassigned Balance.