A baby girl born earlier this month has been declared a Safe Haven baby in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says the girl, born September 8, is now in the department’s care and custody. She will be placed with a foster family until a permanent placement is determined.
She is the 82nd infant to be declared a Safe Haven since Iowa’s law went into effect more than two decades ago.
Iowa’s Safe Haven Act allows parents in crisis who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old to leave the child at a designated safe haven. Those locations include hospitals, police stations and fire stations.
Iowa HHS then works to place the child in an approved foster home while permanent adoption is pursued.
More information about Iowa’s Safe Haven law is available through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.