(a) Each birthing hospital shall provide education and training for nurses and other staff who care for high-risk newborns on the roles and responsibilities of such nurses and other staff as mandated reporters of potential child abuse and neglect under section 17a-101.
(b) The Department of Children and Families shall coordinate with each birthing hospital in the state to disseminate information regarding (1) procedures for the principal providers of daily direct care of high-risk newborns in birthing hospitals to participate in the discharge planning process, and (2) ongoing department functions concerning high-risk newborns.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2019, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall, in consultation with other departments, agencies or entities concerned with the health and well-being of children, develop guidelines for the safe care of newborns who exhibit physical, neurological or behavioral symptoms consistent with prenatal substance exposure, withdrawal symptoms from prenatal substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Such guidelines shall include, but are not limited to, instructions to providers regarding such providers' participation in the discharge planning process, including the creation of written plans of safe care, which shall be developed between such providers and mothers of such newborns as part of such process.
(d) A provider involved in the delivery or care of a newborn who, in the estimation of such provider, exhibits physical, neurological or behavioral symptoms consistent with prenatal substance exposure, withdrawal symptoms from prenatal substance exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder shall notify the Department of Children and Families of such condition in such newborn. Such notice shall be made in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Children and Families and in addition to any applicable reporting requirements pursuant to chapter 319a. On and after January 15, 2019, such notice shall include a copy of the plan of safe care created pursuant to the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Birthing hospital” means a health care facility, as defined in section 19a-630, operated and maintained in whole or in part for the purpose of caring for women during delivery of a child and for women and their newborns following birth;
(2) “High-risk newborn” means any newborn identified as such under any regulation or policy of the Department of Children and Families; and
(3) “Provider” means any person licensed pursuant to chapter 370, 377 or 378.
(P.A. 01-190; P.A. 11-120, S. 3; P.A. 18-111, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 11-120 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing provision re adoption of regulations with provision requiring department to coordinate with birthing hospitals to disseminate information re discharge planning process and department functions, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 18-111 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provision re procedures for principal providers as Subdiv. (1), designating existing provision re ongoing department functions as Subdiv. (2), and making technical changes, added new Subsec. (c) re development of guidelines, added Subsec. (d) re provider involved in delivery or care of newborn exhibiting certain symptoms to notify department of condition, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) re definitions as Subsec. (e) and amending same to designate provision defining “birthing hospital” as Subdiv. (1), designating provision defining “high-risk newborn” as Subdiv. (2), adding Subdiv. (3) defining provider, and making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2018.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17a - Social and Human Services and Resources
Section 17a-93. (Formerly Sec. 17-32d). - Definitions.
Section 17a-94. (Formerly Sec. 17-34). - Establishment of receiving homes.
Section 17a-95. (Formerly Sec. 17-35). - Religious and moral instruction.
Section 17a-97. (Formerly Sec. 17-36a). - Foster parent families.
Section 17a-98a. - Kinship navigator program.
Section 17a-98b. - Visit to family home of child with behavioral health needs.
Section 17a-98c. - Written special requests from foster families to the department.
Section 17a-99. (Formerly Sec. 17-37a). - Delegation of guardianship authority.
Section 17a-100. (Formerly Sec. 17-38). - Ill treatment of children.
Section 17a-100a. - Reporting of neglected or cruelly treated animals. Training program.
Section 17a-100c. - Annual report re actual or suspected instances of animal neglect or cruelty.
Section 17a-101c. - Written or electronic report by mandated reporter.
Section 17a-101d. - Contents of reports.
Section 17a-101l. - Visitation centers.
Section 17a-101q. - State-wide sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program.
Section 17a-102. (Formerly Sec. 17-38b). - Report of danger of abuse.
Section 17a-103a. - Telephone Careline to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.
Section 17a-103c. - Report of abuse or neglect re child committed as delinquent. Notification.
Section 17a-104. (Formerly Sec. 17-38d). - Treatment by Christian Science practitioner.
Section 17a-106b. - Impact of family violence in child abuse cases.
Section 17a-106c. - Family Violence Coordinating Council. Members. Responsibilities.
Section 17a-106i. - Disclosure of personal injury. Provision of notice re victim compensation.
Section 17a-107. (Formerly Sec. 17-38g). - Regulations on reports of child abuse.
Section 17a-109. (Formerly Sec. 17-39). - Commitment of children to child-caring facilities.
Section 17a-110b. - Permanency resource exchange.
Section 17a-114a. - Liability of persons for personal injury to children placed in their care.
Section 17a-114b. - Credit report review for youth placed in foster care.
Section 17a-114c. - Approval of foster or adoptive family application when a child has died.
Section 17a-114d. - Caregiver authority. Reasonable and prudent parent standard. Liability.
Section 17a-114e. - Foster family profiles. Foster family survey.
Section 17a-114f. - Notification of support for foster parents and relative caregivers.
Section 17a-114g. - Annual report re foster care licensing practices.
Section 17a-115. (Formerly Sec. 17-43d). - Arrest records.
Section 17a-115a. - Emergency placement of children. Criminal history records checks.
Section 17a-116. (Formerly Sec. 17-44a). - “Special needs” child defined.
Section 17a-116a. - Information handbook re adoption of children with special needs.
Section 17a-116d. - Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.
Section 17a-116e. - Compact administrator.
Section 17a-117. (Formerly Sec. 17-44b). - Subsidies for adopting parents.
Section 17a-119. (Formerly Sec. 17-44d). - Moneys for subsidies. Regulations.
Section 17a-121. (Formerly Sec. 17-44f). - Prior subsidies not affected. Increases.
Section 17a-125. - Out-of-Home Placements Advisory Council.
Section 17a-126. - Subsidized guardianship program.
Section 17a-127. - Development and implementation of individual service plan. Child specific team.
Section 17a-128. - Liaison to Department of Social Services.
Section 17a-129. - Department not required to seek custody of certain children and youths.
Section 17a-130. - Application to insurance contracts.
Section 17a-147. - Licensing of extended day treatment programs.
Section 17a-148. (Formerly Sec. 17-49). - When license not required; agreement for adoption.
Section 17a-150. (Formerly Sec. 17-49b). - Regulations.
Section 17a-152. (Formerly Sec. 17-51). - Placement of child from another state.
Section 17a-175. (Formerly Sec. 17-81a). - Compact.
Section 17a-176. (Formerly Sec. 17-81b). - Licensing or bonding not required of sending agency.
Section 17a-177. (Formerly Sec. 17-81c). - Financial responsibility for children. Enforcement.
Section 17a-178. (Formerly Sec. 17-81d). - Duties of Commissioner of Children and Families.
Section 17a-179. (Formerly Sec. 17-81e). - Agreements with other states.
Section 17a-180. (Formerly Sec. 17-81f). - Requirements for visitation, inspection, supervision.
Section 17a-181. (Formerly Sec. 17-81g). - Placement of delinquent children.
Section 17a-182. (Formerly Sec. 17-81h). - Appointment of compact administrator.
Section 17a-195 to 17a-201. - Casey Child Welfare Unit.
Section 17a-201a. (Formerly Sec. 17-408). - Commitment under sixteen restricted.
Section 17a-201b. (Formerly Sec. 17-409). - Religious instruction.