From: Tom Raffaele [mailto:tommy@simplesoftware.us]
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 10:36 AM
To: ‘news@actionnewsjax.com’; ‘investigative@actionnewsjax.com’; ‘bbecker@actionnewsjax.com’; ‘newstips@wjxt.com’; ‘iteam@wjxt.com’; ‘tminor@wjxt.com’; ‘jpurdy@wjxt.com’; ‘newsroom@firstcoastnews.com’; ‘onyourside@firstcoastnews.com’; ‘aschindler@firstcoastnews.com’; ‘tellken@firstcoastnews.com’
Subject: The $400,000 “Baby Box” vs. the Human Connection Saving Duval’s Infants
Attn: Action News Jax / Investigative Team,
You’ve likely seen the headlines about “Infant Safety Devices” (Baby Boxes) appearing in Florida from an out of state sole source vendor. It’s being framed as a “feel-good” story—a new way to save abandoned infants. But there is a much bigger, more critical story here that isn’t being told.
For 25 years, A Safe Haven for Newborns has been the quiet force saving lives in our state. In Duval County alone, we have already saved 38 precious newborns.
While the “box” is being marketed as a solution, here is the investigative “flip side” your viewers need to know:
· A Life, Not a Package: A “box” is a silent, mechanical transaction. The direct surrender method is human intervention. When a mother hands a baby to a firefighter, she is met with compassion, not a steel door. We save two lives: the baby gets medical care, and the mother gets the prenatal care, counseling and crisis support a machine cannot provide.
· Security & Liability Risks: Experts like Deputy Fire Chief Joel Gordon have warned that these boxes create an unsecured opening in our secure facilities. Beyond the risk of “Bad Actors” or explosives, these devices lack the UL safety ratings required for public buildings. If a mechanical alarm fails, it’s the City of Jacksonville—not the vendor—holding the liability.
· The Psychological Lifeline: Licensed Psychologist Andrea Corn notes that our method is “phenomenally successful” because it saves two lives. We don’t just take a baby; we provide the mother with immediate counseling and medical care at her most vulnerable moment.
As Miami-Dade Firefighter Janice Matos says, “A newborn should be handed from human to human.” We aren’t just preventing abandonment; we are providing a path for thousands of women in crisis before they reach that breaking point.
The $400,000 Question: Why is the city being asked to spend an estimated $400,000 on a mechanical leases, and installations when a proven, human-led program already exists at no cost to the city.
I am available for an interview to discuss the hidden costs and the safety risks these boxes pose to our first responders and our most vulnerable citizens…. newborns.
With respect,
Tom Raffaele
A Safe Haven for Newborns (www.asafehavenfornewborns.com)
Tom Raffaele
800 413-6915
931-581-2348