Texarkana reached a significant national milestone Friday with the dedication of a new Safe Haven Baby Box at Texarkana Emergency Center and Hospital, becoming the 400th Safe Haven Baby Box location in the United States and the 14th in the state of Texas.
A brief ceremony was held Friday afternoon at the hospital on Cowhorn Creek Road to bless and officially open the box, which provides a safe, secure, and completely anonymous option for parents in crisis to surrender an infant without fear of legal consequences.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes are designed to prevent infant abandonment by offering a compassionate alternative when a parent feels they have no other options. The climate-controlled boxes are built into the exterior wall of a medical or fire facility and can be accessed from outside the building. Once the infant is placed inside and the door is closed, silent alarms immediately notify hospital staff, ensuring the baby receives medical attention within moments.
“Across this country, an infant is found abandoned every two to three days — sometimes in trash cans or dumpsters, places no child should ever be,” said Mariah Betz, assistant project coordinator for Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “These boxes provide another safe option for a parent in crisis to surrender their child and know the baby will be cared for.”
The Safe Haven Baby Box initiative began nine years ago in Indiana. Since then, 70 infants have been safely surrendered using baby boxes nationwide, and more than 150 additional surrenders have been coordinated through the organization’s 24-hour Safe Haven Crisis Line.
The Texarkana Baby Box was made possible through a collaborative community effort, with donations and participation from The Hardy Methodist Women, Communities Unlimited, the Kiwanis Club of Texarkana, Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital, the Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club, the Texarkana Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Texarkana Wilbur Smith Rotary Club.
Special recognition goes to Heather James, whose passion, persistence, and many behind-the-scenes hours were instrumental in making the Safe Haven Baby Box a reality. This project stands as a reflection of her unwavering commitment to compassion and service in our community.
Organizers also extended special thanks to those who donated their time, materials, and professional services to bring the project to life, including M.L. Jmes Construction, Nantze Electric, and Regional Systems.
Hospital officials say the addition of the Safe Haven Baby Box reinforces the facility’s commitment to serving the community beyond emergency medical care.
“This is about protecting life and giving families hope during their most desperate moments,” said one hospital representative. “If this box saves even one child, it will have been worth every effort.”
Safe Haven Baby Boxes operate in accordance with Texas Safe Haven laws, which allow a parent to legally surrender an unharmed newborn — typically within the first 60 days of life — without facing prosecution, provided the surrender is made safely and anonymously.
Community leaders say the installation represents not just a piece of equipment, but a promise — that in Texarkana, no parent has to choose between fear and a child’s safety.
For more information or immediate help, Safe Haven Baby Boxes offers a 24/7 Crisis Line at 1-866-99-BABY1, where trained professionals can guide parents through safe and legal surrender options.
