‘Baby Boxes’: West Virginia lawmakers should consider this option
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As lawmakers deal with the changes necessary after having implemented an abortion ban with limited exceptions last fall, one idea is worth exploring. The House of Delegates is looking at a bill that would allow the state to establish "baby box" safe surrender locations.
Already the state allows for infants younger than 30 days to be turned over to a hospital, health facility or fire department that is staffed 24 hours a day, under the Safe Haven Law. The new proposal would put a baby box in every county, at one of those locations.
These boxes are padded, heated and equipped with a notification system to let those onsite know there is an infant in the box. There are 130 such boxes in nine states. There have been 24 babies surrendered by such means across the country. Kentucky, which also implemented a near-total ban on abortions when Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, now has 16 baby box locations, and the first infant was anonymously dropped off at one of them earlier this month.
Assuming our state Department of Health and Human Resources mess is cleaned up soon, these boxes could provide another option that leads infants into a loving family. Kentucky's example must remind us that if this gives even one child a better chance, it is worth doing.
Lawmakers must ensure the proper steps and oversight are in place to get it done.