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Indiana Abandons Plan to Become 1st State With 'Baby Boxes'

Earlier this year, Indiana was poised to become the first state in the nation to permit use of newborn safety incubators, also known as "baby boxes," to temporarily shelter babies abandoned by their parents.

By Marisa Kwiatkowski

Earlier this year, Indiana was poised to become the first state in the nation to permit use of newborn safety incubators, also known as "baby boxes," to temporarily shelter babies abandoned by their parents.

The padded, heated boxes would be rigged to immediately notify emergency personnel when a child is placed inside. Advocates said the boxes would give parents a safe way to give up their infants without speaking to anyone and deter them from leaving babies in the woods or a trash can.

But the legislation stalled amid concerns it might cause more babies to be abandoned by parents who might have sought help elsewhere. Legislators asked the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana to study the issue.

On Wednesday, amid concerns about the cost and potential liability, the commission unanimously decided not to recommend statewide use of baby boxes. Instead, commission members voted to focus on better educating the public on Indiana's existing Safe Haven law.

The law enables someone to give up an unwanted infant anonymously -- without fear of arrest or prosecution. The adult may give up custody of a baby less than 30 days old to a hospital emergency room, fire station or police station.

Twenty-eight babies have been surrendered under the Safe Haven law since it was passed 14 years ago, according to the Indiana Department of Child Services. There is no data available to indicate how many babies died after being abandoned in unsafe situations.

Monica Kelsey, president and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said the commission members misunderstood the legislation she and others were asking for. She said her nonprofit organization does not need state authorization, nor was it seeking state funding.

Instead, she and others asked for lawmakers to pass a bill that would authorize the state Department of Health to take 18 months to develop standards and protocols before installing the first incubator. They also sought immunity for the hospitals and other agencies that will house the incubators.

Kelsey said she wishes the Task Force on Infant Mortality and Child Health, which is a subcommittee of the children's commission, had dug deeper into what is happening in Indiana, rather than looking at other countries' practices.

"This was never about passing a law, passing a bill," Kelsey said. "This was always about saving abandoned babies."

Babies such as the one wrapped in coats and left in September on the ground near trash outside a church in North Vernon, she said. A Safe Haven location was steps away.

Kelsey said she will be meeting with board members to determine their next steps. She said they have 18 locations that want the baby boxes now.

"We're not going away," she said.

(c)2015 The Indianapolis Star

 

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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