FORT DODGE, Iowa (KCCI) — The first Safe Haven Baby Box in Iowa has been installed in Fort Dodge, the city announced Monday. The box is at the Fort Dodge Fire Department at 1515 Central Avenue. The city said the box will become available to mothers following a test period and blessing later this week. According to Safe Haven Baby Boxes’ website, the boxes take “the face-to-face interaction out of the surrender and protect the mother from being seen.”

According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa’s Safe Haven law “allows parents — or another person who has the parent’s authorization — to leave an infant up to 90 days old at a hospital, health care facility, a fire station, through a newborn safety device, or to an Adoption Service Provider without fear of prosecution for abandonment. A parent may also contact 911 and relinquish physical custody of an infant up to 90 days old to a first responder of the 911 call.”

A new expansion of Iowa’s Safe Haven law will now allow people to give up their baby anonymously through a newborn safety device at places staffed 24/7 with first responders. The Iowa HHS says more than 60 children have been declared safe havens since the law was enacted in 2002. The Safe Haven Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-866-99BABY1 (1-866-992-2291).