Congressman Robert Aderholt honors Alabama State Representative for ‘Baby Boxes’ program

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Congressman Robert Aderholt honored Alabama State Rep. Donna Givens with a Congressional Angels in Adoption Award Wednesday night.

Givens was nominated for the award by Aderholt for her work on the Alabama Baby Boxes Program . The goal of the Baby Box program is to provide parents with the education and resources needed to ensure a safe sleep environment for their infant.

Monica Kelsey, better known “The Baby Box Lady,” started the nonprofit “Safe Haven Baby Boxes” in 2016 out of Woodburn, Indiana to create a safe and anonymous environment for a newborn baby that is surrendered.

By welcoming a child into your home, integrating them as part of your family, the safety and security required for a child to flourish can be achieved. I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you here tonight. I want to especially recognize my nominee: Alabama State Representative Donna Givens. Donna – your heart for the often-forgotten children of the world inspires me daily. I want to take a few moments to tell you all the story of why I nominated Representative Givens to be my nominee this year. As a freshman in the Alabama State House, Representative Givens championed a bill that increases protections for surrendered infants. She maneuvered her bill through the Alabama Legislature and saw it pass unanimously. Prior to her bill becoming law, infants could only be surrendered within seventy-two hours of birth at hospitals. Representative Givens’ legislation extended that period to forty-five days and enabled fire stations to accept surrendered infants 24 hours per day, if staffed by emergency medical personnel. Representative Givens’ bill has already saved lives. So far, just in the past year, three babies have been surrendered at fire station baby boxes. Babies whose mothers made the ultimate sacrifice of love, to surrender their babies knowing they would have a better life in better circumstances. These infants and the ones who will be surrendered in the future will have a chance to be adopted by families who will care for them and ensure their safety. Because of the work done by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, and champions like Representative Donna Givens, I am reassured that the vision we all share – that a world where each child feels the love and support of a family – is well within reach. Thank you again for welcoming me to speak to you all tonight. I look forward to our continued work together. Thank you and may God bless you all.

Robert Aderholt

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