Texas Expands Safe Haven Network with Baby Boxes in Lubbock, Plainview, and Levelland

Covenant Health System celebrated a significant achievement on Thursday morning, June 26, by blessing Texas’s eighth, ninth, and tenth Safe Haven Baby Boxes during a ceremony that highlighted the system’s dedication to safeguarding vulnerable lives.

Newly installed at hospitals in Lubbock, Plainview, and Levelland, these boxes offer a safe and confidential choice for parents who find themselves unable to care for their newborns.

“These boxes connect with our community in a meaningful way,” stated Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer for Covenant Health. “This is at the heart of our purpose—to support those in need and protect the most vulnerable.” These boxes assist us in achieving that goal.

Every Safe Haven Baby Box is equipped with a cradle that maintains a comfortable temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit, as advised by medical professionals, and is designed with a secure locking system. Once a baby is secured inside and the door shuts, it cannot be reopened from the exterior. An alarm is activated after a 60-second delay, allowing the parent who is surrendering to exit without being recognized.

According to Jessi Getrost, executive assistant for Safe Haven Baby Boxes, infants typically spend less than two and a half minutes in the box. After their recovery, every child is provided with medical attention prior to being placed in foster care or adoption programs.

The baby box initiative originated in 2016 when founder Monica Kelsey, motivated by a comparable model in South Africa, set up the inaugural U.S. box in Indiana. According to Getrost, there have been no reported incidents of infant abandonment in Indiana since that time.

“The system is effective,” Getrost stated. “Texas is expansive, yet we are confident that with patience and belief, we can touch every part.”

For Getrost, these boxes represent a beacon of optimism, and each one of them holds the power to make a difference.

The addition of three new installations raises the national count to 353 Safe Haven Baby Boxes spread across 23 states. Getrost, with experience from 150 similar ceremonies, highlighted the crucial need for continuous outreach and education to increase awareness among families about this lifesaving choice.

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