Safe Haven Newborn Surrendered In Knoxville, Placed With “Forever Family”
Image Credit: shbb.org
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Last month the Knoxville Fire Department responded to their very first “Baby Box Alert” and found a healthy baby boy had been anonymously and safely surrendered under Tennessee’s Safe Haven law.
Since July of 2001, the law has allowed mothers to safely surrender their newborn babies to Safe Haven facilities (i.e. hospitals, fire departments, police stations, birthing centers, etc.) without fear of being prosecuted, so long as the babies remain unharmed.
Initially the law allowed for surrender within 72 hours of birth but it was revised in June of 2020 to allow for a 14-day surrender period instead.
Since the law’s inception, over 100 babies have been protected because they were safely surrendered to Safe Haven facilities across the state.
The newborn baby boy surrendered in Knoxville was quickly transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation before being placed into foster care.
According to Safe Haven Baby Boxes, he was expected to stay in state foster care for a period of 45 days while the state attempted to terminate parental rights, making adoption a possibility.
Now just two and half weeks after the newborn was surrendered, he has already found a new home and family.
“He has been placed with his forever family and the adoption process is underway,” stated the pro-lifer and Founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Monica Kelsey. “That baby is healthy and it’s going to live a beautiful life with an adoptive family.”
Of the baby’s biological parent, Kelsey stated that “She had a host of other unsafe options and she chose a safe option.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
