WVLT: First baby surrendered to Baby Box on the path to adoption

The first baby surrendered to the state’s only Baby Box is going through the adoption process. Someone dropped the baby boy off at the Knoxville Fire Department on May 27.

Parents can surrender their babies through the state’s Safe Haven Law without being prosecuted.

“I do think it’s good as that option of last resort,” said Jeremy Harrell, President of The Adoption Project…

Harrell said it is a faster process than usual to place the child. He said the private adoption process can be long for all parties with the child stuck in the middle. Since parents are voluntarily surrendering their child through the baby box, it’s easier to place the baby with a family that’s already been vetted.

However, Harrell said there are drawbacks.

“If you’re in a place where you can go through an agency and make a placement, then you can choose the family and all those sorts of things. And you also get some other wrap-around support services,” Harrell said. Read more from WVLT (with video) >>