Birthing hospitals across the state are providing postpartum patients with an orange bracelet as a reminder to watch for urgent maternal warning signs and get help quickly if they appear. The next phase of the Bracelet Initiative focuses on urgent newborn warning signs. Click the buttons below to learn more.
The Connecticut Perinatal Quality Collaborative (CPQC), a CHA initiative, is a state network of teams dedicated to enhancing quality of care for mothers and newborns across the continuum. CPQC members identify areas of improvement in healthcare processes and use the best available methods to implement remedies as quickly as possible. The coalition comprises physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, additional maternal/infant healthcare providers, and state agency/community stakeholders. Through its work, CPQC facilitates cooperation among hospitals and healthcare providers, supports evidence-based maternal and newborn care practices, shares educational and training resources, and gathers critical data.
Perinatal mental health conditions — including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder — are among the most common complications of pregnancy and the postpartum period, affecting approximately one in five individuals. Public awareness and provider training initiatives have been expanding in Connecticut and across the nation, yet roughly half of cases go undiagnosed and untreated.
The CPQC supports statewide efforts by birthing hospitals and partners to advance the mental health of pregnant and postpartum populations. The CPQC and CHA have led on launching the Connecticut Urgent Maternal Warnings Signs Bracelet Initiative and AIM Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Patient Safety Bundle with birthing hospitals and partnering with communities to advance maternal mental health across the continuum of care. The CPQC has worked to develop a powerful opportunity to advance maternal mental health through the Bracelet Initiative. By prompting both families and healthcare providers to recognize critical symptoms early, including thoughts of self-harm, the Bracelet Initiative serves as a vital safety net that strengthens our broader efforts to protect mental health in the postpartum period.
A critical component of the AIM Perinatal Mental Health Conditions Patient Safety Bundle implementation work includes providing advanced clinical training on the screening and assessment of perinatal mental health conditions including suicidality and bipolar disorders. To support healthcare teams in this vital effort, the CPQC and CHA also work to offer education in these areas.
Learn About AIMThis two-sided handout is a printable handout, designed as a quick reference for pregnant and postpartum patients. As part of Parents Recovering From Opioid and Other Use Disorders (PROUD), one side includes maternal mental health and substance use supports and services, and the other features urgent maternal warning signs via the Bracelet Initiative.
A major professional group for doctors who specialize in women’s health.
Not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by perinatal mental health conditions, including pregnancy, postpartum, and post-loss.
Nonprofit national advocacy group focused on closing gaps in maternity care by integrating mental health screening, diagnosis, and treatment as a standard part of healthcare.
Babies born too early may have breathing problems and jaundice after birth
Less likely to have vision and hearing problems after birth
Babies born at a healthy weight have an easier time staying warm than babies born too small
Babies born early sometimes can’t stay awake long enough to eat
Bracelet Initiative Kickoff Event
Acelleron
Alison Tyliszczak, Maternal Child Health Consultant
Backus Hospital
Bridgeport Hospital
Bristol Health
Carelon Behavioral Health
Carey Consulting
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition
Community Health Center
Community Health Network of Connecticut
Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s NICU at UConn Health
Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Connecticut Department of Children and Families
Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center
Danbury Hospital
Day Kimball Healthcare
Greenwich Hospital
Griffin Health
Hartford HealthCare
Hartford HealthCare Medical Group
Hartford HealthCare Northwest Region
Hartford Hospital
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Johnson Memorial Hospital
Lawrence + Memorial Hospital
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Middlesex Health
MidState Medical Center
Norwalk Hospital
Nuvance Health
Psychological Health Associates
Saint Francis Hospital
Saint Mary’s Hospital
Sharon Hospital
Stamford Health
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
UConn Health
UConn Health Waterbury Hospital
UConn John Dempsey Hospital
UConn School of Medicine
University of Connecticut
University of New Haven
University of Saint Joseph
Wheeler Clinic
Women’s Health Connecticut
Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital
Yale New Haven Hospital
Yale School of Medicine
View previous and upcoming PROUD Trainings, AIM Advisory Group programs, Bracelet Initiative events, and doula-clinician collaboration forums.
The contents of this website are for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not medical advice, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions that you may have regarding a medical condition.
