The City of Rowlett recently dedicated Dallas County’s first Safe Haven Baby Box at Fire Station No. 1, located at 3900 Miller Road. The climate-controlled device allows parents to anonymously surrender an unharmed infant 60 days old or younger under Texas law.
The installation provides a secure bassinet accessible from the exterior. Once the door closes, a silent alarm alerts firefighters and paramedics for immediate retrieval and medical care.
Providence Church of Texas donated the $26,000 cost to purchase and install the box, according to a KERA News report.
Rowlett Mayor Jeff Winget said the city’s experience could encourage other communities.
“I’m hoping that Rowlett’s experience with this will serve as that proof of concept for other communities to explore this as an option,” Winget said. “I would hope every city would certainly look at funding something like this because honestly the cost of a life is worth way more than $25 or $30,000 that it might cost to install a Safe Haven baby box.”
The City of Rowlett held a blessing and unveiling ceremony on July 21, 2026, that included remarks from Monica Kelsey, CEO and founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
The organization designs and supports the devices, which are installed on exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals. Nearly two dozen such boxes operate in Texas, with more than 400 nationwide.
How the Baby Box Differs from Traditional Safe Haven Drop-Offs
Texas’ Safe Haven Law, also known as the Baby Moses Law and codified in Texas Family Code § 262.302, has allowed anonymous surrender of infants since 1999, when Texas became the first state to enact such a statute.
Under the law, a parent may voluntarily deliver an unharmed child 60 days old or younger to a designated emergency infant care provider without expressing intent to return. The parent faces no criminal liability for abandonment or neglect if the conditions are met, and the provider has no duty to detain the parent or ascertain identity.
Designated providers include hospitals, fire stations, free-standing emergency medical care facilities, and emergency medical services stations.
Traditionally, the parent must leave the child with an employee of the provider. The newborn safety device, or baby box, is an authorized alternative under the statute. It permits placement inside the climate-controlled unit without face-to-face contact. The exterior door locks automatically, and an interior door allows staff to retrieve the infant. The device must be located inside a facility staffed 24 hours a day in a conspicuous area visible to employees and must include an alarm system that notifies staff when a child is placed inside.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services states that parents may remain anonymous. Staff may offer a voluntary medical history form but cannot require it.
The infant receives medical care and is placed with an emergency provider, after which the Department of Family and Protective Services assumes care, control, and custody.
Federal and State Framework
No single federal statute governs infant safe haven procedures. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several territories maintain their own laws, which vary in age limits, eligible locations, and anonymity provisions.
Texas law sets the age limit at 60 days and explicitly authorizes both in-person handoffs and newborn safety devices. The parent must ensure the infant shows no signs of abuse or neglect; otherwise, protections do not apply.
Other Designated Locations in the Dallas Area
Parents in Dallas County may surrender an eligible infant at any hospital, fire station, or EMS station without using a baby box.
Examples include facilities operated by Dallas Fire-Rescue and major hospital systems. Nearby boxes outside Dallas County include one at Ennis Fire Station No. 3 and another at McLendon-Chisholm Fire Station 1 in Rockwall County.
The national Safe Haven Baby Boxes hotline is available at 1-866-992-2291. The Texas Baby Moses hotline is 1-877-904-7283.
The Rowlett box joins a network that, according to Safe Haven Baby Boxes, has facilitated dozens of legal surrenders since the first devices were installed. The organization maintains that the boxes serve as a last-resort option for complete anonymity when a parent is unable to care for a newborn.
Provided by Dallas Express
