1. a. The department of human services shall create the more options for maternal support program, a statewide program to promote healthy pregnancies and childbirth through nonprofit organizations that provide pregnancy support services.

 b. The more options for maternal support program is designed to do all of the following:

 (1) Provide an approach and personalized support to pregnant women to provide stabilization to families.
 (2) Promote improved pregnancy outcomes, including reducing abortions, by helping women practice sound health-related behaviors and improve prenatal nutrition.
 (3) Improve child health and development by helping parents provide responsible and competent care for their children.
 (4) Improve family economic self-sufficiency by linking parents to services that address individual economic and social needs.
 c. For the purposes of this section, “pregnancy support services” means those nonmedical services that promote childbirth by providing information, counseling, and support services that assist pregnant women or women who believe they may be pregnant to choose childbirth and to make informed decisions regarding the choice of adoption or parenting with respect to their children.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 217.41C

  • Child: includes but shall not be limited to a stepchild, foster child, or legally adopted child and means a child actually or apparently under eighteen years of age, and a dependent person eighteen years of age or over who is unable to maintain the person's self and is likely to become a public charge. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Department: means the department of human services. See Iowa Code 249L.2
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Internet: means the federated international system that is composed of allied electronic communication networks linked by telecommunication channels, that uses standardized protocols, and that facilitates electronic communication services, including but not limited to use of the world wide web; the transmission of electronic mail or messages; the transfer of files and data or other electronic information; and the transmission of voice, image, and video. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The program may provide and support all of the following pregnancy support services:

 a. Nutritional services and education.
 b. Housing, education, and employment assistance during pregnancy and up to one year following a birth.
 c. Adoption education, planning, and services.
 d. Child care assistance if necessary for a pregnant woman to receive pregnancy support services.
 e. Parenting education and support services for up to one year following a child’s birth.
 f. Material items which are supportive of pregnancy and childbirth including but not limited to cribs, car seats, clothing, diapers, formula, or other safety devices.
 g. Information regarding health care benefits, including but not limited to available Medicaid coverage for pregnancy care and health care coverage for a child following birth.
 h. A call center for information or to schedule appointments.
 i. Medical information and referrals for medical care, including but not limited to pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted infection tests, other health screenings, ultrasound services, prenatal care, and birth classes and planning.
 j. Counseling, mentoring, educational information, and classes relating to pregnancy, parenting, adoption, life skills, and employment readiness.
 3. The department of human services shall issue a request for proposals to select a program administrator for the program. A program administrator shall meet all of the following requirements:

 a. Be a nonprofit entity incorporated in this state with a tax-exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 b. Have systems and processes in place that have been used for at least three years to successfully manage a statewide network of subcontractors providing pregnancy support services.
 c. Have a commitment to promoting healthy pregnancies and childbirth instead of abortion as a fundamental part of the program administrator’s mission.
 d. Create and maintain a network of subcontractors to provide pregnancy support services.
 e. Maintain records for each subcontractor.
 f. Monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of a subcontractor.
 4. A subcontractor providing pregnancy support services under the program shall meet all of the following requirements:

 a. Be a nonprofit organization incorporated in this state with a tax-exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 b. Have a minimum of one year of operational experience in either providing core pregnancy support services or managing a network of providers of pregnancy support services as a subcontractor.
 c. Have a primary mission of promoting healthy pregnancies and childbirth instead of abortion.
 d. Have a system of financial accountability consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, including an annual budget.
 e. Have a board that hires and supervises a director who manages the organization’s operations.
 f. Offer, at a minimum, counseling for women who are or may be experiencing unplanned pregnancies.
 g. Provide confidential and free pregnancy support and other program services.
 h. Provide each pregnant woman with accurate information on the developmental characteristics of unborn children and babies.
 i. Ensure that program funds are not used to provide or refer pregnant women for terminations of pregnancy, or to encourage or affirmatively counsel a pregnant woman to terminate a pregnancy unless the pregnant woman’s attending physician confirms the termination of pregnancy is medically necessary to prevent the pregnant woman’s death.
 j. Maintain confidentiality of all data, files, and records related to the program services provided to persons accessing program services in compliance with state and federal laws.
 5. The department of human services shall publish the program administrator and subcontractor criteria on the department’s internet site.
 6. The department of human services shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the program, and shall provide technical assistance to the program administrator, monitor the program administrator for adherence to state and federal requirements, and collect and maintain program data.
 7. Beginning October 1, 2023, and on or before October 1 annually thereafter, the department of human services shall submit to the general assembly the following program information relative to the prior fiscal year:

 a. The total number of subcontractors by geographical region and the total number of unduplicated clients served by each subcontractor by gender and age.
 b. A description of outreach efforts by the administrator, subcontractors, and the department.
 c. Total program expenditures.
 d. The amounts attributable to the administrator contract and to each contract with the subcontractors.
 e. The outcomes based on outcome measures included in the contracts with the administrator and each subcontractor.
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