Save Haven procedure used at Iowa hospital

DES MOINES - Officials with the Iowa Department of Human Services said Thursday they have used the state's safe haven procedures for the 28th time since the law went into effect in 2002.

A girl was born July 6 at an Iowa hospital, and the infant was released to the custody of the agency, DHS officials said in a news release.

According to the law, a court hearing to terminate parental rights will be held within a month. Specific details are withheld in order to protect the identity of the parents and child.

'Under the safe haven law, 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,” said DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven. 'Most importantly, the life and health of newborns is protected.”

Under Iowa's safe haven law, parents have the option to safely hand over custody of a baby aged 14 days or younger without fear of prosecution for abandonment. The parent or an authorized representative is allowed to leave the newborn at a hospital or health care facility, and can remain anonymous.

The safe haven law was approved in 2002 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.