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SAFE HAVEN FOR NEWBORNS
ACT
Connecticut's Safe Havens for
Newborns Act allows a parent to voluntarily give
up custody of an infant, age 30 days or younger,
to the nursing staff of a Connecticut hospital
emergency room without being subject to arrest for
abandonment. (However, this act does not protect
the parent from being arrested and prosecuted if
abuse or neglect has occurred.)
- When the parent takes the baby
to the emergency room at a Connecticut
hospital a nurse will meet with the parent in
a private area and ask the parent to provide
information about the child’s medical history.
- The nurse will also ask the
parent’s name and address, but the parent does
not have to provide this information.
- The parent will be given a
packet of information on his/her rights.
- Within 24 hours the Department
of Children and Families will take custody of
the infant and begin to develop a plan for
permanent care.
- DCF is required by law to
notify both parents of its intent to keep
custody of the infant and to seek termination
of parental rights.
- If the parent has provided
his/her name and address a court officer will
notify the parents of the court action and the
first hearing date.
- If the parent did not give her
name/address at the hospital, DCF may publish
a notice in the local newspaper.
- The court will schedule a
hearing within 30 days of DCF’s application.
- If the parent changes his/her
mind and wants to regain custody of the child
the parent should make a request to DCF as
soon as possible for reunification. The parent
should also apply to the court for an attorney
because the court can terminate parental
rights at the first hearing.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN
CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Safe
Havens for Abandoned Newborns
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SOURCE: Refer database and
Connecticut Department. of Children and
Families at: http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2556&q=314392
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2012
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