1. Voluntary Paternity Affidavit Webinar
August 30, 2016
10:00-10:30

2. Raise hand if you think the answer is true.
True or False
If a parent/notary makes a mistake on the voluntary paternity affidavit, you should use white-out to correct
Raise hand if you think the answer is true.

3. Reminder: Don’t forget to tell us what you think in the survey!
The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete!

4. Abby Stanek Introduction
Today’s Topics
Abby Stanek Introduction
Common mistakes

5. Abby Stanek Introduction
Employed by Iowa State University’s Child Welfare and Training Project grant
Looking forward to collaborating with Iowa DHS and other organizations
Will travel to birthing hospitals, clinics, community organizations, and more to educate about paternity affidavit
Interested in having Abby visit your organization? her at
Is currently working on contacting hospitals, marketing materials, and a curriculum for hospitals to standardize the paternity affidavit process

6. Common Voluntary Paternity Affidavit Mistakes
Made mistake, did not begin new form
Social Security Number not given
Mother boxes were not checked
County/city of birth not completed correctly
Middle initial given instead of middle name
Education section incomplete/incorrect
Legibility
Hispanic origin not specified
Daytime phone not given
Sex of child not given
Multiple birth not indicated
Notary issues (signature, date, address)

7. Mistakes
If any mistake is made, a new paternity affidavit needs to be started
No scratching out or white-out

8. Social Security Number
Social Security number needs to be given for both parents, it needs to be completed under all circumstances
If a parent does not have a Social Security number, write “none”
If parents do not have a social security number, they may write “none” in the appropriate box

9. Mother Boxes
Mother needs to indicate what marital status applies best to her

10. County/City of Birth
The city AND county of birth needs to be completed without abbreviations
Example: IA City should be written out with Iowa City, Johnson County

11. Middle Initial vs. Name
Child AND Parents’ complete middle name(s) need to be given
This includes child, mother, and father
Example: Dora Winifred Read should be written as such, not Dora W. Read

12. Education Completed
Father’s education section needs to be completed under all circumstances

13. Legibility
If the Bureau of Vital Records cannot read what the parent wrote, it will be rejected. It is vital that all information can be read without doubt as to what it says.
Would you want to have your name misspelled on your birth certificate? BVR does not want that to happen either.

14. Hispanic Origin Complete
Father’s Hispanic Origin section needs to be completed under all circumstances
If there is no hispanic origin, write “none” in the box

15. Daytime Phone Completed
Father and mother’s daytime phone section needs to be completed under all circumstances

16. Sex of Child
The sex of the child needs to be indicated

17. Multiple Birth
The multiple birth box needs to be completed under all circumstances, regardless of if the child was a single birth or not

18. Notary Issues
The notary needs to sign, date, and include an address on both signature lines
The date of notary signature and parent signature needs to match

19. Any Questions?
Note: A checklist is being developed in a curriculum for hospitals to use when educating parents about the paternity affidavit

20. Vote on October Webinar Topic
Benefits of establishing paternity
How to establish $20 reimbursement for hospitals
Hospital curriculum overview
What do parents need to bring to complete paternity affidavit?
How to complete paternity affidavit

21. Mark Your Calendar! Future Webinar Dates: Tuesday, October 25
Tuesday, February 28
Tuesday, April 25

22. Reminder: Don’t forget to tell us what you think in the survey!
The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete!