Hospital Celebrates Connecticut's First Safe Haven Day

n Monday, April 4, several local legislators celebrated Connecticut’s first Safe Haven Day at Middlesex Hospital and its satellite Emergency Departments in Marlborough and Westbrook.

The Safe Haven law, enacted in 2000, allows mothers to leave their babies, up to 30 days old, with an employee at any hospital emergency room during regular business hours in Connecticut.

A distressed mother who is unable or unwilling to care for their infant can give up custody of her baby. She must simply bring the infant to a Safe Haven location and make sure she locates a person to which to give the child. As long as the child shows no signs of intentional abuse, no name or other information is required. Both mother and baby are given matching bracelets so that if she changes her mind, the mother may come retrieve the infant within 30 days. After 30 days, the State Department of Children and Families terminates the biological parent’s parental rights and places the baby with an already licensed family who intends to adopt the child.

State Representatives Gayle Mulligan, Christie Carpino, Melissa Ziobron, Jesse MacLachlan and Devon Carney, visited with staff members at the three Middlesex Hospital locations to enhance awareness of the Safe Haven law and provide information about the program here in our state.

According to Jackie Calamari, Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Middlesex Hospital, “Middlesex Hospital, and all hospitals in the state, are welcoming places for those in need, be it those who are sick and unable to care for themselves, or a distressed mother unable to give the proper care to her newborn. We are thankful to the legislators for shining a light on this very important health issue.”

For more information about the Safe Haven program, go to www.safehaven.tv.