January, 2022
The Voluntary Paternity Affidavit program provides information and resources for Iowa hospitals, clinics, community organizations, and families. This program is funded through a partnership between Iowa State University and Iowa Child Support.

To learn more visit our website.
Program Highlights
Hospital Birthing Center Survey Update
In November 2021, the VPA Outreach Program conducted a survey of Iowa hospital birthing centers to gather information about how the VPA process and patient education efforts are implemented across the state. We had great participation, with 48 complete responses from 34 hospital birthing centers of all sizes. 

Our graduate assistant Alison is hard at work analyzing the survey data. Our goal is to use the information we collect from this survey, along with data from the Bureau of Health Statistics, to develop best practice guidelines to make the paternity establishment process as streamlined as possible for birthing center personnel and their patients.

Watch for more information in future newsletters!
Survey follow-up: Education and Outreach Resources
Some survey respondents indicated that they did not use, had not seen, or were unsure where to access VPA educational materials.

Materials and resources can be found using these links:
Paternity Affidavit
Get to know Sonia Hocking
If you've ever reached out to the Bureau of Health Statistics (BHS) with a question about paternity establishment, chances are you talked to Sonia Hocking.

Sonia has been with BHS for nearly 8 years. In her role as Paternity Clerk, she handles nearly everything that has to do with adding the legal father to the birth certificate by VPA or by court order. She also processes Rescission of Paternity and Termination of Parental Rights.
One of Sonia's primary responsibilities is processing VPA's that are submitted to BHS, checking for errors, and determining whether they can be accepted, or rejected and returned to parents to do over. She loves assisting parents by helping establish paternity. Sonia is an expert resource for parents, hospital staff and others with questions about the VPA, or problem solving unusual or complicated paternity establishment issues.

Her advice for people completing the VPA or helping parents with the process:

"Double check everything and don't be afraid to call if you have any questions. It is so much faster to answer a question than having to use the mail to communicate between us!"

Sonia has two sons, one daughter-in-law, one amazing granddaughter, an old English bulldog, and a beta named Stitch.

You can contact Sonia with questions about the VPA or other paternity establishment issues by calling her at (515) 281-6687.

Thanks for all you do, Sonia!
Resource Spotlight
Online learning presentation: Affirming Interaction with LGBTQ+ Parents
In November, 2021, the Child Support Training Partnership (CSTP) hosted an online learning presentation with Atticus Ranck and Robert Curry from the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Education and Training Program.

The presentation, titled Everyone has the Right to Have a Family: Affirming Interaction with LGBTQ+ Parents, focused on providing culturally sensitive assistance to parents and potential parents who are members of the LGBTQ+ communities. The presentation included foundational information about differences between gender, sex and sexual orientation, as well as the importance of pronouns, and ways that professionals can support modern families and parents.

A recording of the presentation is available on the Child Welfare Research and Training Project's YouTube channel. You can watch the presentation here.
Agency Operations Information
Bureau of Health Statistics (BHS)
Paternity Affidavit and Birth Registration processing continues to proceed as normal. Please send completed and notarized forms and supporting documents to BHS. The following staff are available to assist you if needed:

Paternity Affidavit
Sonia Hocking  (515) 281-6687
Laura Geist      (515) 281-3266

Birth Registration
Laura Geist      (515) 281-3266


Iowa Child Support
Because not all staff are on-site, the best way to reach Iowa Child Support staff is by phone, email and in writing. Staff may be able to offer virtual appointments. Child support payments are no longer accepted in offices. Visit the Payments page to learn about ways to make a child support payment.


VPA Outreach Coordinator – Amy Peters
The VPA Outreach Coordinator is working remotely, and can best be reached by email at pataff@iastate.edu.

Materials orders are being filled. Please click on the link below to complete the order form.