August, 2020
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's Child Support Recovery Unit.

To learn more visit our website.
Digital Outreach
With the need for distancing and contact precautions continuing, we are working on digital options for outreach.

A new informational video to replace “The Power of 2” will be available late summer. We are also creating an instructional video with step-by-step training on how to complete the VPA form.

If you have other training needs during this time, please contact us. We will work with you to develop virtual training options to meet your needs.
Paternity Affidavit Form
VPA Form Changes
In each newsletter we feature a sample of one section of the current form with tips for completing it accurately. In this issue, we look at the information section for the mother.
As with all sections, it is important to not leave any field blank. To complete the mother's section:

  1. Enter the mother’s first, middle and current last name. If there is no middle name, check the box in that field.
  2. Enter the mother's last name before any marriage.
  3. Enter the US state, or foreign country where the mother was born.
  4. Enter the mother's birth date using month/day/year format.
  5. Enter the mother’s social security number. If none, check the box in that field.
  6. Enter the current phone number for the mother, including area code.
  7. Enter the mother's current street address, including apartment, unit, lot, or PO Box number.
  8. Enter the name of the city or town for the street address given.
  9. Enter the state and zip code for the mother’s address.
  10. Check the box next to the statement that describes the mother's marital status at the time of the child's conception, birth, or any time between conception and birth. *One of the two boxes must be checked, but you can only check one box.


If you have any questions about completing the form, please contact the VPA Outreach Coordinator at [email protected].
Resource Spotlight
Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral provides services to help parents find quality child care. Parent Specialists are available by phone to help families find information and resources specific to their unique needs. They also have a website that offers resources in English and Spanish, including tips for navigating the process of choosing a provider, information about assistance with paying for childcare, and links for online referrals in specific geographical areas.  
Covid-19: Agency Operations Information
Operations for these agencies continue as noted below.
Bureau of Health Statistics
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
Molly Gilliam    (515) 242-6332


Child Support Recovery Unit
Local CSRU office lobbies are closed to the general public, with most employees working remotely. Information about how to reach local offices by email and phone is available at childsupport.ia.gov through the 'Offices' tab.


VPA Outreach Coordinator – Amy Peters
Iowa State University continues to restrict professional travel and outreach activities. The VPA Outreach Coordinator is working remotely, and can best be reached by email at [email protected].

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