#4: How Kentucky Became a National Leader in Infant Safety with Rep. Nancy Tate
Manage episode 477222683 series 3648671
Kentucky State Representative Nancy Tate joins Monica Kelsey to share the powerful legislative journey behind bringing Safe Haven Baby Boxes to the Commonwealth. As a freshman legislator, Tate led the charge on three bills that passed unanimously—an extraordinary feat in today’s political climate. Her passion was sparked by the real-life abandonment of a baby in Bowling Green, and she went above and beyond by visiting Indiana to see the technology in action before advocating for it back home.
Together, Tate and Kelsey dive into how baby boxes meet mothers in crisis with compassion and discretion. In a culture increasingly shaped by privacy and digital interactions, anonymous surrender options provide a modern, life-saving solution. As Kelsey puts it, “These kids are doing everything behind a screen,” and baby boxes meet that reality with dignity and care.
Today, Kentucky has over 50 baby boxes thanks to grassroots support—not government funding. Tate’s vision of 155 boxes, one in every county, continues to rally communities statewide. Through heartfelt stories of birth mothers and adoptive families, this episode highlights how real change begins with understanding human needs—and ends with lives saved.
Find Safe Haven Baby Boxes on:
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Chapters
1. Meet Kentucky Representative Nancy Tate (00:00:00)
2. Starting the Baby Box Journey (00:02:14)
3. Advocating Through Opposition (00:06:01)
4. Unanimous Support in Kentucky (00:12:42)
5. Mothers Behind the Surrenders (00:18:08)
6. Beyond Legislation: Building Community Support (00:30:25)
7. Personal Mission and Future Goals (00:38:38)
4 episodes