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Newborn girl in Iowa declared safe haven baby

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October 11th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say a law that allows a parent to give up custody of a newborn has been used 17 times since it was enacted in 2002. The state Department of Human Services says the latest safe haven case involves a girl born at a home on Oct. 5. The newborn’s mother sought medical attention and requested the child be declared a safe haven baby.

Iowa’s safe haven law allows a parent to give up custody of a baby that’s 14 days old or less with no questions asked. The law is in response to a 2001 case involving a mother accused of killing her newborn. All safe haven babies in previous cases have been adopted. Officials say the latest newborn girl has been placed with a foster family.