(Des Moines, IA) – Through the Safe Haven Law, two infants, a baby girl, born March 17, and a baby boy, born March 20, are now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be placed with foster families until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 68 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago.  

“I want parents to know that they have this safe and trusted option at such a critical time in their lives,” said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “Accessing Safe Haven is assuredly not an easy decision, but this law exists to protect newborns and its success is evident by the number of families that have trusted in the Safe Haven Act. Our goal is to protect these newborns and provide them with the best permanent home possible.” 

Iowa’s 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, police and fire stations, etc. HHS then works to place infants in in approved foster homes while awaiting permanent adoption. These are the only two cases 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 Iowa’s Safe Haven, visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven.