ENNIS, Texas — A mother in crisis safely surrendered her infant last month through a face-to-face handoff at Ennis Fire Station No. 3, marking another successful use of Texas' Safe Haven program, according to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
The surrender occurred at the Ennis fire station, which became a designated Safe Haven Baby Box location in June 2025 as part of an effort to provide safe options for parents facing crisis situations.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes officials announced the surrender during a press conference held June 11 at Ennis Fire Station No. 3.
“This is our third baby box baby in Texas in the last six months,” said Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey. “We are proud of the many communities that have prioritized being prepared for safe surrender across the state. Local leaders are protecting these women in crisis by placing baby boxes, and now we have another safe infant.”
Kelsey emphasized that surrendering an infant through the program is an act of compassion and care.
“Surrender is an act of sacrificial love, and we know this mother had great intent for her child that she couldn't currently provide,” Kelsey said. “We also are here to offer support post-surrender with counseling for the mother should she choose to reach out.”
Safe Haven Baby Boxes operates a confidential, 24-hour National Safe Haven Hotline that provides counseling and information about legal infant surrender options, including face-to-face surrenders and baby box locations.
The organization, founded by Kelsey, aims to prevent infant abandonment by offering anonymous and judgment-free alternatives for parents in crisis. While hundreds of Safe Haven Baby Box locations exist across the country, face-to-face surrender remains the primary option in many communities.
Since 2017, Safe Haven Baby Boxes reports that 79 infants have been safely surrendered through baby boxes nationwide, with more than 200 additional face-to-face surrenders facilitated through the organization's hotline.
According to the organization, surrendered infants are placed into the adoption process and matched with pre-approved adoptive families.
“This recent surrender in Ennis is a powerful reminder: when mothers are met with empathy and resources, lives are changed,” the organization said in a statement. “A child is now safe, and a mother can move forward knowing she made a brave, loving choice.”
The National Safe Haven Baby Boxes hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-99BABY1 for parents seeking confidential assistance. To find a Baby Box location near you, visit https://www.shbb.org/.
