“This is about giving people in crisis an option they may not have known existed,” Kelsey said. “It’s about compassion, dignity, and safety — for both the baby and the birth parent.”
Decatur Morgan Hospital’s new Safe Haven Baby Box was made possible through the Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation, with funding support from the Greater Decatur Community Foundation, the City of Decatur, the Morgan County Commission, the Morgan County State Legislative Delegation and generous community partners.
At the March 31, 2025, unveiling ceremony, Decatur Morgan Hospital President Kelli Powers spoke to the importance of providing this option in Morgan County.
“We are incredibly grateful to be able to offer this resource to the people of Decatur and Morgan County,” said Powers. “This is a quiet but powerful statement that says: we see you, we support you, and we’re here to help.”
The ceremony concluded with a special moment of reflection and blessing, led by Decatur Morgan Hospital Volunteer Chaplain Rev. Sandra Locke-Godbey. Her words reminded everyone in attendance of the hope and healing that this new addition represents.
This initiative is part of Decatur Morgan Hospital’s continued commitment to serve every member of the community with compassion and excellence. By offering resources like the Safe Haven Baby Box, the hospital is working to ensure that no one faces a desperate moment alone, and that every child has a chance at a safe beginning.
Decatur Morgan Hospital is the second HH Health facility, along with Athens-Limestone Hospital, to have a Safe Haven Baby Box on site. Madison Hospital supports the effort by providing medical care and safekeeping for any infants surrendered at Madison Fire & Rescue’s Safe Haven Baby Box on Hughes Road.
For more information on Safe Haven Baby Boxes and how they are making a difference across the country, visit shbb.org.
For more information about Decatur Morgan Hospital, visit decaturmorganhospital.net.
