Safe Haven Baby Boxes Now in More Montana Locations

Over 25 years ago, baby Grace was found inside a dumpster on a cold morning behind a bowling alley in Missoula. Miraculously, someone found her...and she survived.

Now, Missoula has a "Safe Haven" so that a situation like that hopefully never happens again.

Robin Sertell with Montanans for Life tells us that thanks to a new law, we now have a Safe Haven law to allow for the anonymous surrender of infants up to 30 days after birth. HB 476 was sponsored by State Rep. Randyn Gregg (R-White Sulphur Springs).

It's a new lifeline for babies left behind in a desperate situation. Earlier this year we told you about Montana's first "Safe Haven Baby Box" located in Lockwood, right outside of Billings. Now, there's a safe haven in Missoula...with more locations planned.

"Montanans for Life worked with Rep. Gregg to pass this life-saving piece of legislation, while our non-profit side, ProLife Bitterroot, worked to find donors to fund a box in Missoula," Sertell tells us.

Prior to the 2025 legislative session, Montana law stipulated that these surrenders must be face-to-face, with a uniformed member of Police, Fire, or at a Hospital – which makes surrender challenging for moms in crisis, Sertell says. "Baby Boxes give real options to moms in crisis, providing for true anonymity."

The Lockwood Baby Box was installed back in June. Missoula’s baby box was delivered on the afternoon of Saturday October 18^th, and will be installed this Fall at the Missoula Fire Station One at 625 E. Pine Street. The location was chosen due to it’s close proximity to the University of Montana, the homeless shelter, and I90.

According to Sertell, each box costs approximately $20,000, which includes the box, delivery, and installation. Lockwood and Missoula’s boxes were funded entirely by donors, giving a potential total of ten boxes across the state.

Sertell also tells us that there is interest in installing baby boxes in each of the major population centers here in Montana. The baby boxes are climate controlled and have sensors to detect when a baby has been placed inside. The baby boxes were designed by an ex-firefighter specifically to work with the systems in firehalls, but they have also been adapted to work in hospitals and police stations. Over 150 babies have been saved by baby boxes in the US.

For more information, click here to reach out to Montanans for Life.