The Iowa Department of Human Services says the state safe haven law has been used again. DHS reports a baby girl was born at a home on October fifth and when her mother sought medical attention, she asked that the child be declared a safe haven baby.
The law was created in the wake of a high-profile case in 2001 involving a teen mother in eastern Iowa who killed her baby after delivering it at home. It is the 17th time the law has been used since then, and all babies were successfully adopted.
State officials withhold most information on these cases to protect the identity of the child and parents, but say the baby was turned over to a foster parent pending further action.