Two infants a year might sound small—until you’re the coroner who sees what happens when a parent has nowhere safe to turn. We invited Chief Deputy Coroner Riley Hoff from Douglas County, Washington, to explore why well-intended Safe Haven laws still miss families in crisis and how a simple extension—24/7 anonymous infant safety devices—can turn fear into a safe handoff and a second chance.

We unpack the real constraints on the ground: the 72-hour window, the requirement to face staff at limited locations, and the stigma that keeps parents from walking through a busy door in a town where everyone knows everyone. Riley brings a public health lens shaped by death investigations, touching on the pressures of addiction, homelessness, and mental health that complicate perinatal decisions. We contrast Washington’s experience with Indiana’s results, where secure, alarmed baby boxes linked to first responders have correlated with zero fatal abandonments due to abandonment and a growing number of safe surrenders. The point isn’t replacing people—it’s protecting privacy at the crucial moment when a parent needs an anonymous, immediate option.

Together we outline a pragmatic roadmap: authorize infant safety devices within the existing Safe Haven framework; set clear standards for installation, alarms, and response; and fund a statewide education push so parents, hospitals, shelters, and schools know the law. We also talk about compassion over judgment—why prosecuting a mother who leaves a newborn safely in a hospital can drive others away from care, and how hotlines and counselors can support without steering the decision. If you care about maternal and infant health, harm reduction, and practical policy, this conversation offers data, lived experience, and a plan to save lives—one quiet door at a time.

If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a review with your take on how Washington should modernize Safe Haven access. Your voice helps move policymakers and protects the next newborn who needs a safe start.

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Two alarms changed everything—one to a fully involved fire, and one to a life waiting in a baby box. We sat down with the Martinez family in Albuquerque to share the raw, unedited journey from infertility and foster‑care training to the moment a five‑pound newborn arrived at their station and rewrote their future. What followed was a whirlwind of NICU nights, confusing protocols, and a simple vow to keep showing up. Along the way, we talk openly about grief from the fatal blaze, the moral courage of a birth mother who chose safety and anonymity, and the quiet heroism of first responders who train for a moment they hope they never miss.

We pull back the curtain on safe haven laws, baby boxes, and why anonymous surrender can be the difference between tragedy and a second chance. The Martinezes describe the emotional whiplash of placement—“you have him,” “you don’t,” “you can visit”—and the steady faith that carried them to adoption day. You’ll hear about bottle feeds and monitors, a name chosen to honor a lost brother, and the day cardiology said, “This is the last time you’ll see us.” We don’t skip the hard parts: addiction’s grip, identity questions for adopted kids, and the delicate balance between privacy and telling a story that can save lives.

What emerges is a love letter to community: firefighters ready to respond, ICU nurses who teach first baths, caseworkers finding their way, and listeners who care enough to advocate for safe, practical options. If you’ve ever wondered whether baby boxes work, or how faith, policy, and perseverance meet in the real world, this conversation offers an honest map—and a reason to hope. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a lift, and leave a review to help more families discover safe haven resources and real‑world stories like Mikey’s.

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Find Monica Kelsey on:

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The Barkmans never expected a phone call on the way to a funeral would change their lives forever. When they answered, they learned about a baby boy surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box who needed a home. That baby became Samuel, their beloved son who's now a rambunctious four-year-old with a love for tools, adventures, and showing affection to everyone around him.

In this deeply moving conversation, Samuel's parents share their remarkable adoption journey from becoming licensed foster parents to the emotional moment they brought home their two-week-old son. But their story also reveals the challenging reality behind the adoption process - the 16-month wait before Samuel was legally theirs, during which he was officially known only as "Baby Boy Doe" in all documentation.

The Barkmans offer a window into how they navigate the complexities of open adoption conversations with a young child. With remarkable honesty, they describe how they answer Samuel's toughest questions: "Why don't I look like you?" and "Where's my second mom?" They've preserved the letter Samuel's birth mother left with him in the baby box, along with his original blanket, treasures they'll share with him when he's old enough.

Their experience helped inspire legislative changes to improve the adoption process for Safe Haven babies in Indiana. The conversation explores the delicate balance between adoption agencies and the foster care system, with the Barkmans advocating for maintaining pathways for loving foster parents to adopt children in need.

What shines through most clearly is the Barkmans' gratitude toward Samuel's birth mother and their openness to connection should she ever reach out. "We pray for her every night," they share. "Samuel knows his story and will always know how thankful and grateful we are to be part of it."

Ready to support more families like the Barkmans? Visit our website to learn how you can help connect surrendered babies with their forever families.

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Behind every life-saving organization is a deeply human story of vision, sacrifice, and perseverance. In this revealing conversation, Monica Kelsey turns the microphone toward her husband Joe, unveiling the remarkable journey they've traveled as co-founders of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

What started as a sketch on a napkin following Monica's trip to South Africa has blossomed into a nationwide movement with 365 baby boxes across 24 states. Joe shares how they navigated the early challenges—from building the first prototype with a local firefighter for $700 to the meticulous process of changing safe haven laws and gaining public trust. As Woodburn's mayor and a National Guard member, Joe brings a unique perspective to his role as Senior Project Coordinator, handling the critical behind-the-scenes operations that keep the organization functioning.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as the couple opens up about their darkest period—when their son's involvement in a fatal drunk driving accident nearly derailed their mission. For almost two years, they put the organization on hold, visiting their son in prison every weekend while their marriage weathered tremendous strain. "Our family was devastated," Monica reveals, while Joe affirms that divorce "never crossed our minds." The turning point came when they received news of their first surrendered baby in November 2017, just months before their son's release—a moment Monica describes as divine intervention saying, "It was almost like Christ was saying it's time to get up."

Despite facing critics who oppose anonymous surrenders or adoption itself, the Kelseys remain steadfast in their commitment to saving lives first. Their unwavering stance on anonymity—even declining partnerships with locations unwilling to guarantee no surveillance cameras—demonstrates their pledge to mothers in crisis: "We're not going to sacrifice integrity for growth."

The most heartwarming revelation? How surrendered babies often form lasting relationships with the firefighters who receive them, creating extended "families" through this life-saving program. Their story is a powerful testament to how personal dedication and unwavering partnership can transform tragedy into purpose and a simple idea into a movement that protects our most vulnerable citizens.

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What happens when your little sister knows all your secrets and gets to interview you on your own podcast? Pure authenticity, unexpected revelations, and a deeper understanding of the personal journey that shaped a national movement.

In this deeply personal episode of Beyond the Box, host Monica Kelsey invites her younger sister Mindy into the studio for a conversation that weaves together family history, teenage rebellions, and the foundations of Monica's advocacy work. The sisters immediately fall into a natural rapport as they reminisce about childhood roles – Monica as "the instigator," their older sister as "the good girl," and Mindy as "the informer."

Through laughter and candid storytelling, they explore how adoption shaped their family dynamics. Monica shares how her curiosity about her biological origins led her to meet her birth mother, a pivotal experience that gave her both closure and perspective. This meeting confirmed her gratitude for her adoptive parents while developing empathy for her birth mother's struggles – two perspectives that now fuel her passion for Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

The conversation takes a serious turn as Monica addresses criticism from anti-adoption voices, drawing powerful connections between her personal experience and her professional mission. She articulately defends the importance of adoption and safe surrender options based on both her life story and the harsh realities she's witnessed. As the sisters share stories from their careers in advocacy and social work, listeners gain insight into why Monica fights so passionately for vulnerable children.

Ready to hear family secrets, teenage rebellions, and the personal journey behind a powerful mission? Listen now and discover how Monica's past shaped her purpose – creating safe options for mothers and babies across America.

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The brotherhood of firefighters represents a special bond forged through shared danger, commitment to service, and unwavering support for one another. This episode of Beyond the Box pulls back the curtain on this powerful connection through the story of Josh Garrison—a firefighter, plumber, and unsung hero of the Safe Haven Baby Boxes movement.

Host Monica Kelsey welcomes Abby Garrison, Josh's widow, and Larry, a fellow firefighter, to share memories of the man who personally installed 21 baby boxes across America before his untimely passing at age 39. Their conversation weaves through humorous firehouse anecdotes, the groundbreaking installation of the very first baby box in U.S. history, and the profound impact Josh made without seeking recognition or reward.

We witness the intersection of personal tragedy and hope when Monica recounts how Josh was present at the Woodburn Fire Department when the first baby was surrendered—providing a ray of light during a dark time as the department was preparing for the funeral of their chief's two children. The emotional weight of this full-circle moment underscores why the work of Safe Haven Baby Boxes matters so profoundly.

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Abby shares the story of Josh's sudden hemorrhagic stroke and how their family has navigated grief while honoring his legacy. Three years after his passing, Josh's problem-solving spirit lives on through the phrase "What would Josh do?"—a testament to his lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

From firefighter camaraderie to the nationwide expansion of Safe Haven Baby Boxes to 23 states, this episode celebrates how ordinary heroes create extraordinary change. Listen now to discover how one man's willingness to serve continues to save lives long after his own was cut short.

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