Ohio

Overview of Ohio law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.

We will soon publish a separate Ohio page containing documents, news stories, and other information regarding the legal controversy in Clermont County and Troy (and perhaps other locations ) over the failure of locations and SHBB Inc Inc to follow state and box company regulations and protocols.

Law

• O.R.C. 2151.317

Legislation

2023

• HB109: Amends Ohio law to include under-staffed and unstaffed locations, such as fire stations to install baby boxes as long as a 911 call system is included. At some point language from bill was moved to HB33 Operating Appropriations bill passed, and signed by the Governor on July 4, 2023.

2017

• HB332: Amends the state’s Deserted Child Act to authorize the use of “newborn safety incubators” located at hospitals, fire stations, and police stations. The legislation was tacked on to a long “Implement infant mortality recommendations bill.”   Tacked on to large child welfare bill. Passed. Effective date: April 6, 2017

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

None.

News & Commentary

2024

• Sanctity of Human Life: Baby box available again at Sunbury fire station after legal issue is resolved, The Catholic Times, January 15, 2024
• Public invited to blessing of Ohio’s 13thSafe Haven Baby Box in Springfield Twn, WTOV, May 1, 2024
• Springfield Township dedicates Baby Box, a “Safe Haven” for abandoned newborns, Toledo Blade, May 3, 2024
• Editorial: A new, unique idea to protect babies in Ohio, Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 5, 2024

2023

• Central Ohio’s only safe haven “baby box” close. WCMH-TV, January 9, 2023
• 2 Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Ohio forced to closed [sic], WHIO-TV, January 10, 2023
• Two Ohio baby boxes closed due to staffing requirement, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 21,2023 This is behind a paywall. Here is a cut-and-paste alternative. (SSHBBN and I appear in the article. )
• Mathews, Schmidt Introduce Legislation to Ease Access to Newborn Safety Incubators, Jean Schmidt Press Release, March 17, 2023
• Baby Boxes: Ohio representatives introduce bill to make it easier to give up newborns, Cincinnati Enquirer, April 2, 2023 (paywall). Cut & paste here.
• As baby boxes close, unwanted pregnancies lose another option/ The Ohio Newsroom/ Statehouse News Bureau, April 12 2023
• Baby Box approved for Troy fire station, Dayton Daily News, April NS, 2023
• Plain City mayor wants to make safe haven boxes more available, WBNS-TV, June 16, 2023
• Cleveland Division of Fire station will feature “Safe Haven Baby Box,” WKYC-TV, July 7, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder’s Hometown of Paulding,OH Blesses Baby Box, West Bend News, July 18, 2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box dedicated and blessed in Paulding, Paulding Progress, July 20, 2023
• City Council committee looks at Safe Haven Box proposal, Chillicothe Gazette, August 14, 2023
• Clermont County Safe Haven Baby Box to reopen, WKRC-TV, September 26, 2023
• More Safe Haven baby boxes added in Tri-State, WXIX-TV, October 4, 2023
• Lebanon Fire Department debuts new baby box, the 10th in the state of Ohio, WCPO-TV, October 4, 2023
• Lebanon dedicates new Safe Haven Baby box at fire station, Dayton Daily News, October 9, 2023
• Ohio Installs 11th safe have baby box” in Darke Co. allows people to safely surrender babies, WHIO, November 3,2023
• Safe Haven Baby Box blessed in Greenville, Greenville Daily Advocate, November 6, 2023
• Not all parents are ready to raise a child and will soon have a new option in Lucas County, WTOL-TV, December 19,2023

2022

• Delhli, NKY get first Safe Haven Baby Boxes, which offers an option for women in crisis, WVXU-TV, January 21, 2022
• Ohio gets its 6th Safe Haven Baby Box in Union Township, WVXU-FM May 25, 2022
• Lucas County installing first Safe Haven Baby Box, WTVG-TV, June 2, 2022
• “Baby box” to be installed at Lebanon fire station later this summer, Dayton Daily News, June 2, 2022
• Harrison City Council Votes in Support of Safe Haven Baby Box installation, Eagle County Online, July 1, 2022
• Springfield Township Fire department fundraising for first Lucas county baby box, MSM/WNWO-TV, July 7, 2022
• “The last option a parent has left.” Why a baby box could be coming to your town, Cincinnati Enquirer, July 17, 2022
• Heartbeat of Toledo to fund Springfield Township Fire’s safe haven baby box, WTOL-TV, August 8, 2022
• Opinion: Are Baby Drop Boxes a realistic option for giving up babies anonymously? University of Dayton Flyer, News, August 25, 2022
• Ohio Department of Health launches investigation into Troy Fire Department’s baby box, WKEF-TV, September 14, 2022
• Troy Safe Haven Baby Box under investigation, Miami Valley Today, September 16, 2022
• Baby Box controversy; Man who filed complaint against Troy baby box speaks out, WOIO-TV, September 19, 2022
• Versailles Fourth Grader makes a big difference, Greenville Daily Advocate, September 20, 2022
• Troy Fire officials defend “baby box” design after complaint filed with state, Dayton Daily News, September 20, 2022
• Corner Shack helps Safe Haven at kickoff, Greenville Daily Advocate, September 22, 2022
• New Baby Box Allows for Safe Haven Surrender of Infants In Northwest Ohio, The Oho Star, October 26, 2022

2021

• Safe Haven Baby Box for unwanted infants installed in Sunbury, Delaware Gazette, January 8, 2021
• First Safe Haven Baby Box in Hamilton County to be installed at Delhi Twn. fire station, Cincinnati, Enquirer, September 8, 2021
• Lebanon councilman proposes Safe Haven Baby Box, Dayton Daily News, September 19, 2921

2019

• Van Wert Health now offering baby box, Lima News, January 28, 2019
• VanWert Health installs baby box, VanWert Times-Bulletin, January 29, 2019
• VW Health installs Safe Haven Baby Box, Van Wert Independent, January 29, 2019
• 3rd Safe Haven Baby Box installed in Ohio allowing parent to anonymously give up child, WOIO-TV,, July 30, 2010
• Ohio to get first Safe Haven Baby Box at fire station, WXIX-TV Cincinnati, September 22, 2019
• Teacher works to bring Safe Haven Baby Box to the Seneca County area, Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune 

2018

• Safe Haven Baby Boxes: How a simple action can save a child’s life, WTOL-TV , January 19, 2018
• Hicksville K of C Grants Money to Safe Haven Baby Box, West Bend News, May 31 2018
• Safe Haven Baby Box opens at Community Memorial Hospital in Hicksville, WFFT-TV, November 16, 2018

2017

• New Ohio law adds “baby box” language, WANE-TV,  March 9, 2017

2016

• Pioneer OKs baby drop-off, Bryan Times, May 17, 2016
• JFS hears about baby boxes, Bryan Times, May 26, 2016
• Pioneer FD: Change baby box law, WNWO-TV, November 13, 2016
• Baby boxes demonstrated in Pioneer, Bryan Times, November 14, 2016
• Pioneer considers adding baby box when new bill becomes law, Village Reporter, December 18, 2016

Updated December 5, 2024