WEEKLY UPDATE: 04/30/26
As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), joined by state and local officials and advocates, are raising awareness about protections available to infants and their birth parents through Connecticut’s Safe Havens for Newborns Act.
Since the law’s passage in 2001, 60 babies have been safely surrendered at hospitals across Connecticut, including two this April. The Safe Havens law allows a parent who is unable to care for their newborn to voluntarily and anonymously surrender an infant 30 days old or younger to staff at a hospital emergency department (ED). DCF will then place the baby in a pre-approved adoptive home.
At a press conference on Wednesday, April 29, CHA’s Allison Matthews-Wilson, senior director of workforce and clinical policy, alongside clinical leaders from Connecticut Children’s, Saint Francis Hospital, and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, emphasized that hospital EDs are prepared not only to protect and care for newborns but to meet surrendering parents with dignity and without judgment.
“Connecticut hospitals have proudly served as Safe Haven providers for more than 25 years, offering 24/7 access to safe, compassionate, and expert care for both infants and parents in crisis,” said Matthews-Wilson. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), she recalled her personal experience taking in an infant and helping the birth mother navigate the process.
“She gave as much as she felt she could give in those moments. … It really was an expression of love, and it was a gift to that child, knowing that this was the best way she knew how to care for her child,” Matthews-Wilson said. “The combination of clinical excellence and compassion is the foundation of the Safe Havens Act.”
Connie Grant, associate chief nursing officer and senior director of clinical services, Connecticut Children’s — who has accepted three babies in Connecticut EDs since the law’s inception — explained that hospitals are uniquely positioned to serve as safe havens.
“We are trusted providers within our community to ensure that we have a safety net for our families and children,” Grant said. “The emergency medicine perspective is that we are responsible for not only the immediate assessment and stabilization of newborns, but we are also there to ensure coordination with nursing staff, social work, child protective services, and community partners to ensure there’s a safe transition of care. These situations require careful clinical evaluation and trauma-informed communications.”
Dr. Andrew Franco, an emergency medical physician at Saint Francis Hospital, said, “It speaks directly to our mission of supporting the most vulnerable patients in our community. We are trained and prepared to take care of the baby and mother without judgment, regardless of circumstances, and ensure that baby is safe, healthy, and then connected with community resources.”
Melissa Pinto, lead social worker for pediatrics and women’s services at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, underscored the importance of early intervention and proactive education.
“We typically meet with families anywhere from on the birthing unit to the inpatient floor on the pediatrics side and are able to educate them on the Safe Havens Act if they are questioning their ability to parent their child in the postpartum period,” Pinto said. “We are very honored to be able to speak with those families and connect them with resources that might be best suited for them.”
“It’s had an incredible impact, not just for the babies that have been adopted into forever homes and for the parents thrilled to have those children, but it’s also a lifesaver for birth parents who just could not raise that child. I can’t stress this enough — this program is lifesaving,” remarked Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “In Connecticut, we chose to lead with compassion, and we chose to give people choices. This program recognizes that raising a child is a significant and life-changing decision, and it gives people the opportunity to navigate complex feelings, especially after giving birth.”
Additional speakers included DCF Commissioner Susan Hamilton; State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton); State Representatives Treneé McGee (D-West Haven) and Tim Ackert (R-Coventry); Pam Sawyer, former state representative and an architect of the original Safe Havens for Newborns legislation; Lori Stewart, Connecticut Catholic Conference; and Doug Hood, lecturer in neurology at Yale University and author of the book Daughter of Song.
Related News:
Connecticut Hospitals, State Leaders Commemorate 25th Anniversary of SAFE Havens for Newborns Law
