Harrison to Dedicate First Safe Haven Baby Box Today

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The following press release is from our friends at Arkansas Right to Life.

HARRISON – Harrison’s 1st and Arkansas’ 30th Safe Haven Baby Box will be dedicated at 1 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, at the Harrison Fire Department, 523 S. Pine St. The public is invited.

“Saving lives just got a little easier in Harrison, Arkansas, as our newest baby box will be blessed on July 16th. The newest addition represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide a safe and anonymous alternative to surrendering an infant,” said Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. “Our new location will offer a secure and compassionate option for parents in crisis and help ensure every infant has a chance for a safe and loving future. Across the country, there are 358 Safe Haven Baby Box locations with 30 in Arkansas.”

Kelsey added, “The Safe Haven Baby Box in Harrison would not have been possible without the local advocates, the Knights of Columbus, who worked tirelessly to bring this resource to their community.”

Speakers at the event are Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, and Jerry Hogue of the Knights of Columbus. Father Ben Riley of Mary Mother of God Catholic Church will offer a blessing and remarks.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes was founded by Monica Kelsey on a mission to end infant abandonment. In addition to baby boxes, the organization provides a confidential National Hotline, 1-866-99BABY1. Twenty-four states have a Baby Box presence within their state. Kelsey shared, “We have seen time and time again that preparation can save and change lives. We never know when or where we will be needed, so it is crucial to have options for mothers in crisis. I am grateful for local advocates who take our mission to their community.”

Since 2017, 60 infants have been safely and legally surrendered in a Baby Box. The National Safe Haven Crisis line has assisted with more than 150 handoff surrenders. Each year the numbers increase with more baby boxes available across the country. Surrendered infants are adopted by families who have registered as foster to adopt. The Local Department of Family Services coordinates the adoption process.

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Arkansas Right to Life is the state affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, the oldest and largest pro-life organization. For more information, visit https://artl.org/.

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State of Arkansas Offering $2M to Help Moms in Need

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The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Pregnancy Help Organizations Grant Program.

In April, Gov. Sanders signed Act 1006 budgeting $2 million in funding for grants to pregnancy help organizations.

Under Act 1006, grant money can go to pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other charitable organizations that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

The State of Arkansas also can award funding to charities that promote infant and maternal wellness and reduce infant and maternal mortality by:

  • Providing nutritional information and/or nutritional counseling;
  • Providing prenatal vitamins;
  • Providing a list of prenatal medical care options;
  • Providing social, emotional, and/or material support; or
  • Providing referrals for WIC and community-based nutritional services, including food banks, food pantries, and food distribution centers.

The measure makes it clear that grant money will not go to abortionists or their affiliates.

Since 2022 Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers. These state-funded grants have helped support dozens of charities that assist women and children in Arkansas.

The grants are optional. It’s entirely up to pregnancy resource centers whether they want to apply for the money. Over the past three years, the funding has made a tremendous difference in communities across our state.

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, lawmakers around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations. It’s good to pass laws protecting women and unborn children from abortion, but it’s important to take steps to support women with unplanned pregnancies. Arkansas’ grant program does exactly that.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Pro-Life in Practice: Arkansas Awards $2M to Support Moms in Need

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The State of Arkansas awarded $2 million to pregnancy resource centers during its 2024-2025 fiscal year, according to the state transparency website.

Last year the Arkansas Legislature appropriated $2 million in grants to promote maternal wellness and provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and similar charities can apply for state grant funding, but Arkansas does not fund abortionists or their affiliates.

Since 2022, Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers. These state-funded grants have helped support dozens of organizations that assist women and children in Arkansas.

Arkansas’ fiscal year ended on Monday. All told, 35 organizations received funding in the 2024-2025 budget cycle. That’s something to celebrate!

Pregnancy resource centers give women real options besides abortion. That is why many states provide these organizations with funding.

As we always say, it’s important to pass laws to prohibit abortion, but we also need to help women with unplanned pregnancies.

This year Family Council was able to work with lawmakers to secure another $2 million in grant money for pregnancy help organizations in the state’s 2025-2026 budget cycle. We expect the State of Arkansas to begin accepting grant applications later this year.

Below is a list of pregnancy help organizations and the amount of grant funding each received from the State of Arkansas between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

OrganizationDoing Business AsGrant Funding
INFORMED CHOICES WOMENS CENTER OF THE OZ$128,474.43
HEART TO HEART PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER$81,321.88
OPEN ARMS PREGNANCY CENTER INC$81,321.00
ARKANSAS BAPTIST CHILDRENS HOMES AND FAMLIVING WELL COUNSELING$81,301.88
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER OF CENTRAL ARKANCARING HEARTS PREGNANCY CENTER$81,209.26
HOPEPLACE NEWPORT$80,321.88
CRADLE THE MATERNITY SUPPORT CENTER OF CKATHLEEN BLOSSOM$80,321.88
PATHWAY RESOURCE CENTER$78,981.88
LIFES CHOICE PREGNANCY CARE CENTER$75,856.88
BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION$74,821.88
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CARES$50,004.00
HOPEPLACE – FORDYCE$50,000.00
PLUM FOUNDATIONPEACE LOVE UNDERSTANDING MERCY$50,000.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY HELP CENTER OF$50,000.00
ST BERNARDS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION$50,000.00
NEW BEGINNINGS PREGNANCY CENTER$50,000.00
CHANGEPOINT PREGNANCY CARE AND PARENTING$50,000.00
COMPASSION MINISTRIES LTD$50,000.00
HOPEPLACE MONTICELLO$50,000.00
ST FRANCIS HOUSE NWA INCCOMMUNITY CLINIC$50,000.00
SOUTH ARKANSAS CARING PREGNANCY CENTERHANNAH PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$50,000.00
PREGNANCY HELP CENTERPREGNANCY HELP CLINIC$50,000.00
ST JOSEPHS HELPERS OF PULASKI COUNTYARKANSAS PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$50,000.00
OPTIONS A PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER INCOPTIONS$50,000.00
ABUNDANT LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$49,876.00
FORT SMITH CHRISTIAN FAMILY SERVICES INC1ST CHOICE PREGNANCY MEDICAL CENTER$49,850.00
HOPE OF THE DELTA CENTER$49,349.04
DISCERNMENT LLC$49,185.00
ACTS OF HOPE INCACTS OF HOPE, PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$48,776.00
CHOICES PREGNANCY RESOURCE CLINIC INC$45,048.00
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD FAMILY SERVICESCOMPACT FAMILY SERVICES$44,273.00
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER FOR SOUTHWEST$43,700.00
HOPES FIRST CHOICE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CE$26,415.00
CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONBREATH OF LIFE PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER$26,249.00
ARKANSAS PREGNANCY NETWORK$20,423.82
Total$1,997,081.71

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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