The CCMH Foundation has partnered with City of Lawton Fire Department to offer a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns. A Safe Haven Baby Box is being installed at Fire Station #5 to ensure there is a lifeline for mothers and a safe beginning for their newborns.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are temperature controlled, medical-grade drop boxes installed in the exterior walls of fire stations, hospitals, or emergency medical facilities. These boxes allow a parent in crisis to safely and anonymously place a newborn inside the device. Once the baby is placed inside, the exterior door locks automatically, preventing any unauthorized access. A silent alarm is triggered, alerting first responders on site who retrieve the baby within minutes and ensure the infant receives immediate medical attention.
The goal is simple yet profound: provide a safe, anonymous, and legal way for parents—often overwhelmed, frightened, or facing extreme personal crises—to ensure their baby survives and is cared for.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are not meant to be the first choice for handling crisis pregnancies. Instead, they are a compassionate, anonymous safety net for the most extreme situations.
In a world where newborn abandonment can still result in tragic outcomes, these boxes offer a dignified and secure alternative—and a reminder that every life matters, even in the most desperate moments.
Jared Williams, Fire Chief; Kyle Nyhart;
Dede Armes, CCMH Foundation Volunteer