Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) signed a bill allowing parents to surrender their infants to Safe Haven Baby Boxes at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement buildings.
The babies must be less than three days old and have had no face-to-face interaction.
“I am glad Wisconsin will now be able to provide parents in distress an option to complete anonymity when making the difficult choice to surrender their newborn,” Wisconsin Representative Ellen Schutt (R) said.
“Wisconsin’s 2001 Safe Haven Law carried a stigma, especially in small communities, because parents were afraid others will find out they gave up their children. Sadly, this came to a head earlier this year after a newborn was found dead in a field in Whitewater. Members of the community came to me expressing an interest in making sure this did not happen again, and I am glad we were able to find a solution and get this law enacted.”
She added, “With their potential to provide a safe and anonymous option, baby boxes will save lives.”
“Expanding safeguards for kids across Wisconsin is a priority for my administration, and this bill provides a solution that will hopefully keep newborns and infants safe from harm,” Evers said in a statement. “I will continue to advocate for initiatives that work to make our communities and families safer, and I look forward to seeing more bipartisan bills like this in the future.”
Rep. Joel Kitchens (R), co-author of the bill, stated, “Being a parent in ideal circumstances is tough. For some in rough situations, it can feel impossible. If a parent finds themselves in a hopeless situation with nowhere to turn, the child could be in danger. Now, parents in Wisconsin may have an anonymous and safe way to turn over custody of their child.”
“While the original law was well-intentioned, having to face someone in person might discourage someone from using this option. In small towns, there can be a fear that someone will find out,” he added. “If a baby box saves one child, it’s worth the investment.”
According to the Safe Haven Baby Box website, boxes and baby drawers can be found in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, Iowa, Missouri, West Virginia, and now Wisconsin.
