By Andrea Vasquez
The Town of Edgewood will not proceed with its plans to install a Safe Haven Baby Box— a secure device that allows for the anonymous surrender of infants.
Edgewood had been actively working to become part of the state’s Safe Haven for Infants Act initiative, which allows parents to legally and safely surrender infants 90 days old or younger at designated locations without facing criminal charges.
In November 2023, the Edgewood Commission approved participation in the program and secured a $10,000 grant through the Mid-Region Council of Governments to support planning and installation of a baby box.
The chosen site was to be the Santa Fe County Fire Department on NM 344 near Venus Park.
However, the project encountered significant setbacks. Santa Fe County Fire later withdrew from the agreement, and town officials were unable to find another facility that met the strict requirements of 24/7 staffing, monitoring and trained first responders on-site at all times.
“The Town had diligently worked to find a safe location that meets the requirements of being monitored and staffed 24/7/365 with personnel trained as first responders,” said Edgewood Community Liaison Linda Burke. “Within the Town of Edgewood, there are very limited options that fit that criteria. In a rural setting, such as ours, all first responders must be available to respond to emergency calls at any time, and this could mean a station is temporarily not staffed.”
Burke explained that while local healthcare facilities are not open around the clock, local fire and police departments are also facing staffing limitations.
With no viable location available, Edgewood has notified the $10,000 grant issuer that the town will be unable to utilize the funds at this time.
“Rather than tie up funding that may be needed by another community, Edgewood has informed the $10,000 grant issuer that we are unable to use the funds at the present time,” Burke said.
Despite this decision, Burke emphasized that the town is still committed to supporting at-risk parents and is actively researching other resources and services.
“In the meantime, we are researching other resources and services that may be in our area and will make that information available on our town website in the near future,” she said.
Edgewood reminds residents that Safe Haven laws still apply. Infants can legally be surrendered in person at authorized sites, including hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement offices.
Though Edgewood does not currently have a baby box, those options remain available.
As of now, New Mexico has nine Safe Haven Baby Boxes installed in cities such as Hobbs, Carlsbad, Belen, and Española. Bernalillo is in the process of installing a baby box at its main fire station.
These devices, when used, trigger silent alarms and dispatch emergency responders to ensure the infant receives immediate care.
While the Edgewood project is on hold, Burke affirmed that the town remains dedicated to the safety of its most vulnerable residents.
“The Town of Edgewood was quite disappointed when, late in the process, Santa Fe County Fire pulled out of an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to house the baby box at the Edgewood Fire Station,” she said. “We will continue looking at possible locations and options for the Safe Haven project.”