I m Dawn Geras, Executive Chair of the Illinois Save Abandoned Babies Foundation. I am also one of the founding board members of the National Safe Haven Alliance. Over the years I have assisted many states and organizations with passing and amending their safe haven laws. Please understand that I am passionate about wanting to do all that I can to save each and every baby from illegal abandonment so at first blush coming out against Baby Boxes may not seem to make sense. However …
1) Jacksonville already has extensive Safe Haven sites: 30 hospitals, 70 fire stations and 6 police stations – more than 106 sites in place. Installing boxes at 14 of these already existing Safe Haven sites would cost at least $314,000 (approximately $22,500 per box), not including ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and licensing costs.
2) A far more holistic and effective approach to supporting parents in crisis is direct contact. This interaction creates an opportunity to provide immediate emotional support, medical care, and information about available services. Importantly, anonymity is already guaranteed by the law. Evidence shows that when parents receive compassionate, nonjudgmental support, approximately 29% choose to parent their child or pursue an adoption plan.
3) While baby boxes may marginally increase anonymity, they also eliminate personal contact, leaving a parent completely alone during an intensely emotional and time-sensitive decision. Although parents have the legal right to surrender an infant and walk away, there is intrinsic value—even in a brief interaction—in offering compassion and human presence. Anecdotal evidence from first responders consistently describes these exchanges as deeply loving and humane acts. Their presence gives parents a comforting final memory of knowing their baby is safe and cared for
4) Today’s environment of high risk of terrorist attacks makes boxes a soft target for potential terrorist attacks. A box could be used to conceal an explosive device that could kill many first responders, nurses, doctors and patients. This concern has been raised by terrorism task forces and law enforcement agencies nationwide. For more context, please see this short video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANKrGbHbXCE&feature=youtu.be
For additional insight, please read these articles:
“Health Professional Support the Direct Surrender Method as Compassionate and Humane”,
“The growing backlash to Indiana’s baby box empire. Monica Kelsey says her devices save lives. Critics say they’re unsafe – and not a solution for mom’s im crisis”
In Illinois we have no boxes and we have gone over 2 1/2 years without a single illegal abandonment.
Instead of spending taxpayers money on boxes there are so many other ways to address this issue that would have a greater impact.
1) Consider directing available funding to a statewide awareness campaign to ensure parents know about the Baby Safe Haven law and existing Safe Haven locations.
2) Consider amending the current FL Safe Haven law and add Police Stations as another legal site for relinquishment as most of the rest of the country already do.
3) Consider amending the current FL Safe Haven law to require schools to teach students about the existence of the Safe Haven law.
4) Consider amending the current FL Safe Haven law to signage designating they are a Baby Safe Haven site.
I realize this is a very long email for you to read and digest, and I thank you for your time. It is so important to do the very best we all can do to preserve the lives of these innocent newborn babies, and for their parents to be able to make a responsible, loving decision.
Dawn Geras
25 years of preventing illegal abandonment of newborn babies.
Executive Chairperson, Save Abandoned Babies Fdn.
Vice President, National Safe Haven Alliance
55 E. Erie St., #2905, Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-0229 Cell 312-519-3447