Owen County is working to become the latest Indiana community to install a baby box.
Local officials began the process months ago, and just received approval from the county commissioners to place a baby box at the county’s EMS offices.
Owen County Prosecutor Donald VanDerMoere says the community needs to raise about $7,000 to finish paying for the project.
"The Safe Haven Baby Box itself is just a safe resource for mothers to choose to anonymously abandon their child, and they wouldn’t fear any prosecution or repercussions from that decision," VanDerMoere says.
VanDerMoere says the box is part of a larger project by Owen County’s Infant Mortality Task Force. Programming and other resources will be available to help connect parents with resources before they consider abandoning a newborn.
