From 2020 to 2022, state officials repeatedly halted admissions to a children’s psychiatric center in Hamden due to ongoing reports of abuse and disorder at the facility. Allegations included staff members kicking and spitting on a child in their care.
The state ordered The Children’s Center of Hamden to stop admitting patients to its psychiatric facility four times, despite a pressing need for inpatient beds. These freezes lasted months, with officials citing multiple instances of abuse and inadequate supervision that led to dangerous situations.
Internal documents reveal disturbing incidents, such as staff members pushing a child into a bush, punching a child in the face, and allowing assaults between children without intervention.
As officials questioned the facility’s safety, another concern arose: If the center closed, where would the children go? This dilemma highlights the broader issues within Connecticut’s mental health care system, which is struggling to meet the increasing demand for children’s services.
The Children’s Center of Hamden is one of five psychiatric residential treatment facilities in the state, serving some of the most vulnerable children, many of whom are in foster care and have experienced severe trauma. The facility is largely funded by Medicaid and state grants.
During the pandemic, the number of children needing mental health care surged. As the Children’s Center stopped admissions, other facilities were overwhelmed, with children in crisis flooding emergency departments.
Meanwhile, incidents at the Hamden facility continued. In one case, a child attempted suicide by swallowing a screw. In another, a staff member punched a child in the face. There were also reports of children running away, one even carjacking a neighbor at knifepoint.
State officials, including those from the Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health, considered closing the facility but worried about the impact on the already strained system. Despite leadership changes and efforts to improve, the center continued to face significant challenges, exacerbated by the pandemic and staffing shortages.
Throughout this period, state agencies worked to oversee and correct the facility’s practices, requiring training and policy changes. However, financial struggles also plagued the center, with the state unable to fully compensate for the losses incurred during the admission freezes.
Even as conditions reportedly improved, broader concerns remain about the state’s capacity to provide adequate mental health care for children with severe needs. The situation at The Children’s Center of Hamden underscores the difficulties in balancing the need for care with ensuring the safety of vulnerable children.