Sheryl Lee Ralph shares two adult kids — son Etienne and daughter Ivy Coco — with ex-husband Eric Maurice.
Communities across the nation are renewing their focus on Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
A safe haven baby box is a secure, climate-controlled receptacle typically installed at a fire station or hospital where parents can anonymously surrender newborn infants without the fear of prosecution.
These boxes are part of "safe haven" or "safe surrender" laws that exist in all 50 US states.
According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, infant safe haven laws are designed to prevent “babies from being abandoned at places where they may come to harm.”
Not all cities in the United States have safe haven baby boxes, but more continued to be installed, of which you can find here.
The renewed focus stems from an ongoing case involving University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling, who is being accused of concealing the birth of her newborn.
Lexington police officers reportedly “found an unresponsive infant wrapped in a towel and a trash bag” in the UK cheerleader’s home on Aug. 27, per Knox News. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene.
Snelling, who pleaded not guilty, is being charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and concealing the birth of an infant, per the outlet.
READ MORE: A firefighter earned the nickname Stork because he delivered four babies over past three years
According to WBIR, there are 17 Safe Haven Baby Boxes in Tennessee — one of which being located less than 10 minutes from Snelling’s home.
Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, told WBIR that “this could have been avoided.”
“We could have saved the child’s life and we could have kept a mother out of prison for the rest of her life if she would have just utilized this law,” Kelsey said of the infant safe haven laws.
“It just saddens us that one parent fell through the cracks,” she added.
More Safe Haven Baby Boxes are being installed in cities across the nation
Local governments and community organizations are responding to the renewed attention by fast-tracking baby box installations that had been in planning stages.
Here are just some of the many Safe Haven Baby Boxes that have been installed in recent weeks:
- Tupelo, MS unveiled the city’s first Safe Haven Baby Box on Aug. 12, per WTVA
- Gulfport, MS opened its second Safe Haven Baby Box on Aug. 15, per WLOX
- Russellville, KY unveiled the city’s first Safe Haven Baby Box on Aug. 26, per WBKO
- Farmington, NM opened the 11th Safe Haven Baby Box in the state on Aug. 27, per KOB
- A 12th Safe Haven Box in New Mexico is being installed at Artesia General Hospital, per KRQE
- Kingsport, TN opened a new Safe Haven Baby Box on Aug. 29, per WBIR
- Harris County, TX debuted its first-ever Safe Haven Baby Box on Sept. 2, per KHOU
- Magnolia, TX installed its first Safe Haven Baby Box on Sept. 3, per Community Impact
- Hattiesburg, MS installed the ninth Safe Haven Baby Box in Mississippi on Sept. 12, per WLOX
- Amarillo, TX is expected to unveil the second Safe Haven Box in the Texas Panhandle on Sept. 26, per ABC7
- Rumford is preparing to install Maine’s first-ever Safe Haven Baby Box, per WGME
- Columbus, MS is currently considering adding a new Safe Haven Baby Box, per WTVA
According to Safe Haven Baby Boxes, there are more than 370 baby boxes located across the United States, most of which are found on the East Coast.
The boxes are already being put to use by people across the country.
On Aug. 10, First Alert 4 reported that a newborn baby was surrendered at a Safe Haven Baby Box at Mehlville Fire House 2 in St. Louis.
It was the second baby surrendered at the fire house since the box was installed in August 2023.
On Sept. 4, WGAL reported that a baby was surrendered at a box located at the Lancaster General Hospital in Pennsylvania. Efforts to facilitate adoption are now underway.
Like Mehlville, this was the second baby to be surrendered at the baby box, which was installed in 2023.
On Sept. 8, Montgomery Fire and Rescue in Alabama confirmed that a baby girl believed to be less than one week old was surrendered at their baby box, according to The Montgomery Advertiser.
“Every child deserves a chance at life, and every parent deserves access to resources that protect them during their most difficult moments,” said Montgomery Mayor Steven L. Reed, per the outlet.
ALSO ON MOD MOMS CLUB: Texas family finds out they’re having a baby girl after 108 years of having baby boys
“This is about ensuring no child is left without care, and no parent is left without hope,” he added.
