(The Lion) A newborn girl has been safely surrendered under Iowa’s safe haven law, bringing the total number of infants surrendered there to 80 since the law took effect more than 20 years ago.
State officials said the child, born March 6, is now in the care of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. She has been placed with a foster family while authorities work to find a permanent home.
This case was Iowa’s first safe haven surrender this year.
The state’s Safe Haven Act allows parents facing a crisis to legally give up custody of a newborn without punishment. The law applies to infants up to 90 days old. Parents can leave a child at approved locations such as hospitals, police stations or fire departments.
Officials say the program prevents unsafe abandonment and gives vulnerable children a chance at a stable future. Rather than leaving desperate parents with no options, the law offers a path protecting both child and parent.
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Safe haven laws exist in all 50 states, though details vary. Iowa’s version allows a relatively long window compared to some states, giving parents extra time to make a decision in difficult circumstances.
Supporters of these laws have long argued they offer a practical alternative that affirms the value of life while addressing real-world challenges. In many cases, children surrendered under safe haven statutes are adopted into stable homes.
Critics of pro-life policies often argue support systems for mothers are lacking. However, safe haven programs represent an area where states have taken concrete steps to offer an immediate and compassionate option, even if broader support remains uneven.
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Mike Morrissey, the founder of Baby Safe Haven New England, has noted safe haven laws are one place where pro-life and pro-choice sides agree.
“It has nothing to do with pro-life or pro-choice,” Morrissey previously told NewBostonPost. “In New Hampshire when we were getting the law done there, New Hampshire Right to Life came up to testify and Planned Parenthood of New Hampshire came up after and said almost the exact same thing. People’s eyes were popping out of their heads. They both promote it.”
Iowa officials continue to encourage residents to consider fostering or adoption. Information is available through the state’s adoption and foster care website and on its safe haven program page.
Editor's note: This article was published by The Lion and is reprinted with permission.
