First Safe Baby Box Surrender in Wisconsin

Written by

Location: Racine Fire Station #4, Racine, Wisconsin
Event: A newborn baby girl was safely and legally surrendered through a Safe Haven baby box — the first use of its kind in the state.
Outcome: The baby was immediately transported to a hospital for evaluation and care. She was reported to be healthy and safe.

Wisconsin’s Safe Haven Law (expanded in 2023 under Gov. Tony Evers) allows a parent to anonymously surrender a newborn within 72 hours of birth to a firefighter, law enforcement officer, hospital employee, or by using a designated baby box.
The law is designed to prevent unsafe abandonments and give parents a secure, judgment-free option.
Once surrendered, the child is placed under the care of Child Protective Services (CPS), which begins the process of finding a permanent home, typically through adoption.

A baby box is a climate-controlled, secure drawer built into a fire station or hospital wall.
When a baby is placed inside, alarms alert on-duty firefighters or medics immediately, ensuring the infant is retrieved within seconds.
The boxes are temperature-regulated, safe, and confidential, with no cameras or identifying features to record the parent.

Wisconsin joins over 15 other states that have implemented baby boxes.
According to the nonprofit Safe Haven Baby Boxes, over 200 boxes are currently active nationwide, and more than 40 infants have been safely surrendered using them.
Advocates emphasize that this system saves lives by giving desperate parents a safe alternative to abandonment.

Comments