Through the Safe Haven Law, two infants, a baby girl, born May 15, and a baby boy, born May 26, are now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be placed with a foster family until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 70 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago.
Iowaβs Safe Haven Act is as an option for parents in crisis to who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old. Designated locations like hospitals, fire stations, etc. HHS then works to place infants in in approved foster homes while awaiting permanent adoption. This is the third case so far in 2024. In 2023, ten infants were relinquished to HHS custody under the Safe Haven Act.
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or adopting a child, visit https://iowafosterandadoption.org/ to learn more about becoming an approved foster or adoptive family. For more information on Iowaβs Safe Haven, visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/programs/CPS/safe-haven.