(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) reports officials have used the state’s safe haven procedures for the 36th and 37th time since the law went into effect. A girl was born May 24, 2019, and a boy was born May 27, 2019. Both infants were released to the custody of DHS.

A court hearing to terminate parental rights is held within a month. Specific details are withheld in order to protect the identity of the parents and the children.

Through Iowa’s safe haven law, parents have the option to safely hand over custody of babies age 30 days or younger without fear of prosecution for abandonment. The
parent, or their authorized representative, can leave the newborn at a hospital or health care facility, and can remain anonymous.

The safe haven law was approved in the wake of a high-profile case in 2001 involving a teen mother in eastern Iowa who killed her home-delivered newborn. Infants who are safe haven babies are placed with currently-approved foster or adoptive families.

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please visit
https://iowafosterandadoption.org/.   For more information on the safe haven procedure: http://dhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven