SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The City of Sylacauga will soon install a Safe Haven Baby Box, providing a secure, legal, and anonymous option for parents in crisis to safely surrender a newborn. The project comes through a partnership with ACT (Adoption Can Transform) Families, a community service initiative founded by Sylacauga resident and 2026 Miss Hidden River’s Teen, Peyton Crist.
Crist shared her personal connection to the mission during a Sylacauga City Council meeting in February.
“I’m here today because my birth mother was brave enough to seek help, knowing she could not care for me,” Crist said. “With ACT Families, our desire is to see children in loving homes and families. One resource we’ve found that helps with this is Safe Haven Baby Boxes.”
On Tuesday, April 21, the Sylacauga City Council approved the project with a unanimous 4-0 vote. Contracts between Sylacauga Mayor Dr. Matt Hubbard, ACT Families, and Safe Haven Baby Box were signed the following week to begin the installation process.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes provide parents with a secure and anonymous way to surrender a newborn under Alabama’s Safe Haven Law, enacted in 2023 through House Bill 473. The law protects parents who safely surrender an infant.
There are currently 20 Safe Haven Baby Boxes across 10 Alabama counties and in 17 states nationwide. Sylacauga’s installation will serve families in Talladega, Coosa, Clay, and surrounding counties.
The baby box will be installed at the Sylacauga Fire Department, located at Sylacauga City Hall. Built into an exterior wall, the temperature-controlled box immediately alerts trained personnel when a newborn is placed inside. Fire department staff can then safely retrieve the infant from inside the building before the child is transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and later placed with the Alabama Department of Human Resources for adoption services.
City leaders emphasized the importance of confidentiality and anonymity, noting that parents who use the box are making a difficult but selfless decision.
ACT Families has launched a $40,000 fundraising campaign to cover installation costs and the first two years of service contracts. Funding will also support alarm monitoring, maintenance, and training for fire department staff and city officials.
The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE) has committed to donating baby supplies and informational materials that will accompany infants placed through the program. ACT Families also plans to partner with local churches to provide gifts and messages of encouragement for parents.
Donations can be made through ACT Families, and additional information is available through Safe Haven Baby Boxes and local organizers.
