GREENFIELD — The City of Greenfield opened their very first Safe Haven Baby Box over the weekend.
The baby box is located at 210 W. New Rd., which is the Greenfield Fire Territory Station No. 422.
The dedication was on Feb. 18 and included a blessing along with a speech from Mayor Chuck Fewell.
The baby box was made possible through a partnership between the Life Choices Care Center and the family of a local hospital employee. Together they worked to raise more than $20,000 for the installation of the box.
The box is dedicated to Trisha Dillman, a Greenfield resident who spent 25 years as a NICU nurse before dying from COVID in January 2022.
Dillman loved working with babies and mothers. Her family says the box will be a way to keep her legacy alive.
Since 2017, 21 babies have been surrendered in baby boxes in Indiana. There are now 26 boxes statewide and 134 nationwide.
What is a Safe Haven Baby Box?
Baby boxes are safe incubators that have alarm systems, so 911 is notified as soon as a baby is placed inside. The baby boxes also have heating and cooling features.
READ | Meet Grace: One of Indiana's Safe Haven babies
Once the infant is collected by first responders, they're taken to the nearest medical facility to be evaluated.
Infants surrendered under Indiana's Safe Haven Law are placed in the custody of the state's Department of Child Services after they are released from the hospital. The process then begins to find an adoptive family within 30-45 days
SHBB staffs a 24-hour Safe Haven hotline (1-866-99BABY1), so parents can talk to trained professionals and get more information about their options for surrendering or how to get assistance to help them be able to care for their child.
The SHBB hotline is staffed by licensed counselors.
-
AES Indiana's parent company agrees to be sold, will go private
The parent company of AES Indiana is being sold to a group of private investors. Locally, the company says customers shouldn't expect major changes.
Woman dies after being shot on Indy's near southwest side
A woman is dead after she was shot early Monday morning on Indianapolis' near southwest side, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
6 US service members killed as Iran conflict intensifies
At least four American soldiers have died as the war in the Middle East intensified over the weekend and Iran and its proxy forces launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Arab states.
Indy mother pleads for answers in son's 2024 homicide
An Indianapolis mother is pleading for answers about her son's murder in 2024. It's been almost two years since he was shot and killed, and the question of who killed him remains unanswered.
