Iowa's expanded Safe Haven Act leads to increase in surrendered babies
Iowa's Safe Haven laws have seen significant changes, leading to an increase in the number of babies being safely surrendered.
This week, Iowa's Health and Human Services Department reported that a baby girl, born in November, is now under their care. She is the sixth baby surrendered this year through the Safe Haven law, marking the 72nd baby since the law was enacted over two decades ago.
The law, initially implemented in 2002 and expanded in 2023, now allows for easier access and more confidentiality for parents making the difficult decision to surrender their newborns. Fire stations, traditionally a safe place for surrendering babies, can now implement Safe Haven Baby Boxes, due to the recent legislative changes.
Norwalk fire Chief Jennifer Porter highlighted the community's motivation to join the program after a tragic incident involving a neglected newborn in 2023.
"So, I think it's important that we're offering another solution," Porter said. "And I think that this project could go beyond the city of Norwalk. We could be available to people in this side of the state and the side of our county."
The Iowa Legislature's expansion of the Safe Haven Act now permits anonymous surrender of babies through newborn safety devices at locations staffed 24/7 by first responders.
Kelly Garcia, Iowa's director of Health and Human Services, noted a rise in surrendered babies since the law's expansion, with 22% of all Iowa Safe Haven babies surrendered in the last two years.
Garcia emphasized the importance of anonymity and the absence of prosecution fears in creating a safe environment for these babies.
"We don't want to have stigma associated with this choice," Garcia said. "The ability for individuals to understand that that is an option and that they can do it anonymously without fear of prosecution is key to making sure that we create that safe environment for a safe haven baby."
Iowa's first baby box was installed in Fort Dodge last year, followed by a second in Des Moines two months ago.
Norwalk fire aims to become the third location, with Lt. Jacob Pemberton announcing plans to fundraise the remaining $25,000 needed for installation by early 2025.
"After the first of the year, we're really going to kick off our fundraising campaign for it, open it up to the community," Pemberton said.
Even without a baby box, parents can surrender a child at any fully staffed fire station or hospital, or by calling 911.
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