The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Recognize Bridgeport Hospital’s Family Bridge Program With the 2025 Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award
WALLINGFORD — The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) have awarded Bridgeport Hospital the 2025 Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award in recognition of the Family Bridge Program.
The annual award, presented jointly by CHA and DPH, recognizes a Connecticut hospital or healthcare system that has made an outstanding contribution to its community. Bridgeport Hospital was presented with the prestigious award by DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, at the 2025 CHA Annual Meeting, held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Bristol Event Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
Family Bridge is an innovative program administered by Bridgeport Hospital that offers home visits from universal nurses and community health workers (CHW) to all eligible new parents in the Greater Bridgeport area, promoting a healthier start for the whole family.
“CHA is honored to be joined by DPH in presenting this award in recognition of exceptional work to bring together care providers, community health workers, and community partners to address social drivers of health and improve health outcomes for children and families,” said Jennifer Jackson, CEO, CHA. “We applaud the Family Bridge Program team for all their efforts to ensure care extends beyond the four walls of a hospital to improve health outcomes for parents and children immediately after birth, in the months that follow, and provide support and guidance that can lead to a lifetime of better health.”
In the Family Bridge Program, each participant receives up to three free visits from a maternal-infant health nurse, who conducts physical assessments of both mother and baby, performs screenings, and provides education on newborn care. Certified lactation consultants can also offer breastfeeding support. Approximately 45% of participants continue with a community health worker, who helps connect them to vital resources, such as diaper banks, food banks, WIC, and SNAP. Families can stay engaged with the program for up to six months. Eligible families must give birth at Bridgeport Hospital or St. Vincent’s Medical Center and reside in one of the following towns: Bridgeport, Stratford, Shelton, Milford, Monroe, Easton, Fairfield, or Trumbull.
Family Bridge was launched as a pilot at Bridgeport Hospital in October 2023, and it has already made a significant impact. As of January 2025, the program and its nearly 20 staff members have served more than 950 families, conducted more than 1,200 home visits, and facilitated more than 2,000 referrals to community resources. So far, 60% of eligible families have agreed to be seen by a Family Bridge nurse. Family Bridge demonstrates high levels of effectiveness and family satisfaction, with a patient satisfaction score of 9.7 out of 10 based on 460 surveys.
Family Bridge is primarily funded by five state agencies: the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), Office of Health Strategy (OHS), and the Departments of Public Health (DPH), Social Services (DSS), and Children and Families (DCF). In addition to this funding, Bridgeport Hospital has made a significant investment of time and resources into the program. The program is set to continue through 2026.
The Family Bridge program is already being replicated in Norwich, launched in February 2025. Additionally, the Bridgeport program is creating a “playbook” that will detail how other hospitals can replicate this work effectively.
Learn more about the program by watching the award recognition video here.
