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Crestview to unveil first Safe Haven Baby Box in Florida Panhandle

The City of Crestview prepares to introduce the panhandle's first Safe Haven Baby Box, offering a secure, anonymous option for mothers in crisis to surrender newborns safely and legally.
Council-woman Cynthia Brown stands beside newly installed Safe Haven Baby Box at Crestview’s Fire Station 1 (City of Crestview)

Crestview is set to become the third location in Florida to install a Safe Haven Baby Box, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for October 28, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. The event will take place at Fire Station 1, located at 321 West Woodruff Ave.

  • The initiative, led by Council-member Cynthia Brown, aims to protect newborns by providing a safe and anonymous surrender option for mothers in crisis. This installation marks a significant milestone for the Florida Panhandle region, joining Ocala and Newberry in offering this critical service.

The Safe Haven Baby Box is part of a broader effort to raise awareness of the Safe Haven Law. It includes a 24-hour hotline that offers free counseling and assistance to women facing difficult circumstances.

The decision to install the baby box comes after unanimous approval from the Crestview City Council in November 2023. Council-member Brown, who initially proposed the idea, cited Florida’s new abortion law and growing socioeconomic pressures as factors contributing to the need for such a resource.

Mayor JB Whitten previously expressed strong support for the project, sharing an emotional account of Ocala’s experience with their baby box. “The one time it gets used, it is worth it,” Whitten said during the council meeting that approved the installation.

Credit: Safe Haven Baby Box

The baby box will be equipped with temperature control and multiple alarm systems to ensure the safety of surrendered infants. Once a baby is placed in the box, the exterior door automatically locks, and alerts are sent to 911 dispatch. Firefighters at the station will be responsible for responding to these alerts.

  • Initial costs for the project were estimated at up to $30,000, with Councilmember Brown contributing $7,500 from her discretionary funds. The community was also invited to participate in fundraising efforts to cover the remaining expenses.

The City of Crestview encourages community members to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 28. For more information about the Safe Haven Baby Box project, click here to read the previous news coverage.

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“Very glad to see this project going through,we don’t live here but we brought our bikes here from misssouri and drove over to 30A to ride”
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“I suggest revising this statement: "doubling the number of travel lanes from the current four to six" since doubling four does not yield six.”
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“No there was never one here.”
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“Sad that I know him and had no idea!”
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“One of the most important issue regarding this matter is: was this x-con provided with an opportunity to learn a trade while locked up for 327 months or was he...”
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“Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I seriously question the integrity of the yellow media and low-intelligence commenters for spewing such damagaing rhetoric before this case has even been...”
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“I take it that he only did half of 27 years which is 13 1/2 years .He apparently missed his inmate friends. What made him think he could get away...”
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“How can we get this started at Bluewater ? yeah Mrs Crist , still loving and making a difference in children’s lives .”
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“This is such an awesome idea! Ms. Crist was my daughter Valerie's 2nd grade teacher when Valerie attended Bluewater Elementary School! Ms. Crist was born to teach!! Nellie Bogar, Youth...”
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