Safe Haven Baby Box pitched for Holmes County as potential lifesaving resource

Holmes County Commissioners are considering a proposal brought forward by Cross Point Church of Ponce De Leon to install a Safe Haven Baby Box at the new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) building currently under construction, an initiative supporters say could provide a lifesaving option for newborns and parents in crisis.

During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Pastor Michael Tadlock of Cross Point Church and advocate Kayla Johnson addressed the board, outlining the purpose and potential impact of installing a baby box in Holmes County. The device would allow a parent to anonymously and safely surrender a newborn without fear of prosecution, ensuring immediate medical attention and protection for the child.

Johnson emphasized that the baby box could eliminate dangerous situations in which an infant might otherwise be left at an unattended location, such as the doorstep of a fire station, where no personnel may be present for hours.

“Our goal is to ensure that in Holmes County, no infant is ever left in an unsafe location because their parent(s) felt they had no other choice,” Tadlock told commissioners. “Psalms 82:4 tells us to ‘Deliver the poor and needy.’ Our desire is for Holmes County to provide a safe place for such deliverance.”

Tadlock said the church views the proposal as both a moral and community responsibility, noting that infants represent the most vulnerable members of society.

“We can’t think of anyone any poorer or in any greater need than an infant in need of safety and loving care,” he said. “A Safe Haven Baby Box in Holmes County will potentially save the life of a helpless infant child in the future. That’s what this initiative is all about, and one life saved will be worth it all.”

Under Florida’s Safe Haven law, a parent may legally and anonymously surrender an unharmed newborn generally up to 30 days old, at designated Safe Haven locations, including hospitals, staffed EMS stations, and fire stations, without facing criminal charges. Once surrendered, the infant receives medical evaluation and is placed into the care of child welfare professionals.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes, are designed to expand access to those protections. The boxes are climate-controlled and installed into the exterior wall of a facility. When a baby is placed inside, the exterior door locks automatically and silent alarms notify on-duty personnel, ensuring the infant is retrieved within minutes and receives immediate care.

Tadlock also highlighted the anonymity the box provides for parents in crisis.

“A wonderful feature about the Safe Haven Baby Box is that it will provide a 100% anonymous, secure, and life-saving option for parents in crisis who feel they have no other options and feel that they cannot surrender a newborn in person,” he said. “Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ message to them is, ‘No Shame, No Blame, No Names.’”

The estimated cost to purchase and install a Safe Haven Baby Box ranges from $15,000 to $20,000, according to Tadlock. He told commissioners that Cross Point Church is prepared to assist with funding and help raise additional money through local churches, citizens, and community partners if the county chooses to move forward.

“As we begin this endeavor to install a Safe Haven Baby Box, we look forward to walking this journey together with the concerned citizens of Holmes County, the many pastors and churches in our area, as well as hand in hand with our County Commissioners, Sheriff John Tate, and other county officials to see this become a reality,” Tadlock said.

Commissioners indicated they plan to schedule a future workshop to further discuss the proposal, including funding options, placement considerations, and coordination with county emergency and law enforcement agencies. No formal action was taken during Tuesday’s meeting.