Every birthing hospital in the state of Iowa is required to provide information to unmarried parents regarding how to establish paternity. CWRTP developed a program to help hospital employees, community organization employees, and unmarried parents to understand the importance of paternity.

The Voluntary Paternity Affidavit (VPA) is a free form that legally establishes a legal father. Unmarried parents will receive a VPA at their birth hospital. The biological parents of child can complete the form any time after the child's birth. There is no age limit to establish a father through the VPA.

The legal father is whom the law recognizes as the father of the child. Legal fathers have the duty to support their children financially. When parents do not live together, the VPA can be used to get child and medical support orders.