District 9 Councilman Announces Safe Babies SA:

Published on September 02, 2022

District 9 Councilman Announces Safe Babies SA: A Proposal to Install Life Saving “Baby Boxes” at Safe Haven Locations

SAN ANTONIO (September 2, 2022) — Councilman Courage, with fellow community leaders, announced a proposal to explore the installation of newborn safety devices at designated Safe Haven locations.

Between 2018 and March 2022, there were 59 cases of babies surrendered at Safe Haven sites, as reported by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services – 172 in Texas since 2009. The number of safe and legal surrenders has decreased in recent years while the cases of severe child abuse and abandoned babies in dangerous conditions has increased.

“The decision to surrender a newborn child must be an excruciating experience in a period of desperation. These ‘baby boxes’ would allow parents to safely leave their infant quickly and anonymously while removing the barrier of fear and embarrassment that comes with a face-to-face interaction. Unplanned pregnancies will likely increase because of newly restricted women’s healthcare options. Safe surrender locations are the last resort for a mother or family and a renewed chance for an infant. Unfortunately, we have no doubt these anonymous surrender locations will be needed to save lives.” - Councilman John Courage, District 9.

“As District Attorney, I am dedicated to protecting the rights of everyone in our community, especially women, children, and LGBTQ+ individuals who may have their rights threatened. Women who find themselves in a desperate situation should not fear prosecution for appropriately utilizing a responsible and safe option to surrender a baby. When used appropriately and as described in this CCR, utilizing a Safe Haven Baby Box does not meet the elements of abandoning or endangering a child in Texas and is not a crime. This initiative will protect children. I am proud to stand with the District 9 Councilman and other community leaders in support of this initiative.” – Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales.

In jurisdictions where allowed, these safety devices are created to maintain an optimal environment for the care of an infant and must meet the following requirements:

• Be physically located inside a Safe Haven site, which may include a hospital, law enforcement agency, or fire department, staffed 24 hours a day by a medical services provider.
• Be in an area conspicuous and visible to the employees of the Safe Haven site.
• Allow a child to be placed anonymously from outside the facility.
• Lock after a child is placed in it so a person outside the facility cannot access the child.
• Provide a controlled environment for the care and protection of the child.
• Notify a centralized location in the facility within 30 seconds of a child being placed in the device.
• Trigger a 911 call if staff at the facility do not respond within a reasonable amount of time after a child is placed in the device.