Safe Haven for Newborns
The Safe Haven Act is a law that allows parents - or another person who has the parent's authorization - to leave an infant up to 90 days old at a hospital, health care facility, a fire station, through a newborn safety device, or to an Adoption Service Provider without fear of prosecution for abandonment. A parent may also contact 911 and relinquish physical custody of an infant up to 90 days old to a first responder of the 911 call. More than 60 children have been declared safe havens since the Iowa law was enacted in 2002. All states have Safe Haven laws, although provisions differ.
Safe Haven Information for Parents
Safe Haven Locations
A Safe Haven is an institutional health facility - such as a hospital or health care facility, a fire station, a newborn safety device, an Adoption Service Provider or a first responder who responds to the 911 telephone call.
According to the law - an "institutional health facility" means:
A "hospital" as defined in Iowa Code section 135B.1, including a facility providing medical or health services that is open twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week and is a hospital emergency room, or
A "health care facility" as defined in Iowa Code section 135C.1 means a residential care facility, a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for persons with mental illness, or an intermediate care facility for persons with an intellectual disability.
According to the law, “first responder” means an emergency medical care provider, a registered nurse staffing an authorized service program under section 147A.12, a physician assistant staffing an authorized service program under section 147A.13, a fire fighter, or a peace officer as defined in section 801.4.
A “Fire department” means a paid or volunteer fire protection service provided by a benefited fire district under chapter 357B or by a county, municipality or township, or a private corporate organization that has a valid contract to provide fire protection service for a benefited fire district, county, municipality, township, or governmental agency.
A “Fire station” means the physical business location of a fire department.
Requirements for Safe Haven Facilities and First Responders
Hospitals and health care facilities, fire stations and Adoption Service Providersare encouraged to prominently display the Safe Haven logo.
First responders and Adoption Service Providers must transport any infant relinquished to them to the nearest institutional health facility and provide any parental identification or medical history information to the institutional health facility.
Immunity
The law provides immunity from prosecution for abandonment for a parent - or a person acting with the parent's authorization - who leaves an infant at a hospital or health care facility.
The Safe Haven Act provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for hospitals, health care facilities, fire stations and Adoption Service Providers and persons employed by those facilities that perform reasonable acts necessary to protect the physical health and safety of the infant.
Adoption Service Providers
Adoption service provider - means a state- licensed private agency which is recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which represents itself as placing children permanently or temporarily in private family homes, receiving children for placement in private family homes, and actually engaging in placement of children in private family homes for adoption.
Adoption service providers who will be involved in the surrender of newborns are required to be certified in CPR and first aid training for both infants and adults.
If you are an interested service provider and believe you meet the requirements, please email Laura Leise at Lleise@dhs.state.ia.us.
Safe Haven Approved Adoption Service Providers
Lutheran Family Service - Text “Safe” to (844) 764-2029 or call (515) 571-9964
2550 Middle Road
Suite 202
Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
Text “Safe” to (844) 764-2029 or call (515) 571-9964
409 Kenyon Road
Suite c
Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501
Text “Safe” to (844) 764-2029 or call (515) 571-9964
6200 Aurora Avenue Suite
Suite 410W
Urbandale, IA 50322
Text “Safe” to (844) 764-2029 or call (515) 571-9964
3112 West Broadway
Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
Text “Safe” to (844) 764-2029 or call (515) 571-9964
New Horizons Adoption Agency, Inc - 24-hour hotline (800) 314-3370
Northern Iowa
Marlys Ubben (800) 314-3370
Avalon Center- Call toll-free anytime of day or night (866) 722-0070 or text "safe haven" to (641) 512-8870
1202 S. Main Street
Charles City, IA 50616
(641) 715-1183
9 2nd Street NW
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 422-0070
American Home Finding Association
217 E 5th St.
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 682-8784
Katy Gottschalk kgottschalk@ahfa.org