Newborn boy becomes 29th ‘safe haven’ baby

DES MOINES - Officials with the state Department of Human Services said Friday they now have used Iowa's safe haven procedures for the 29th time since the law went into effect.

A boy was born July 25 at an Iowa hospital and the infant was released to DHS custody, state officials said.

A court hearing to terminate parental rights will be held within a month. Specific details were withheld to protect the identity of the parents and child.

'Under the safe haven law, the life and health of newborns is protected,” said DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven. 'In addition, parents in crisis are protected from prosecution for abandonment, allowing them to safely leave an infant at a hospital or health care facility, no questions asked.”

Through Iowa's safe haven law, parents have the option to safely hand over custody of babies age 14 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.