SEYMOUR, Ind. — This week Indiana will get its ninth Safe Haven baby box.

It will be installed at the Seymour Fire Station #3. A dedication ceremony will be on Friday, June 14, at 10:30 a.m.

Safe Haven Baby Box was founded by firefighter and paramedic Monica Kelsey — who was abandoned herself when she was an infant.

Kelsey says their 24-hour hotline gives women the opportunity to talk to a trained professional as they consider safely surrendering their baby.

“When a woman calls in in crisis, the first thing we offer her is ‘Can we get you to a crisis pregnancy center?'” Kelsey said. “‘Can we get you to an adoption facility?’ Can we get you to a hospital? What can we do for you?'”

She says the Safe Haven baby box is supposed to be a last resort, not a first.

The Safe Haven Law allows people to anonymously surrender their healthy newborn in a Safe Haven box without fear of criminal prosecution.

Four babies have been surrendered inside Safe Haven Baby Boxes since the first in Indiana was installed in 2016.

photo courtesy Safe Haven Baby Boxes