Bring them home.
Bring them home.
As pediatricians and neonatal critical care physicians we are calling for the immediate release of children from detention facilities and for evidence based standards of care for every child in custody.
Who We Are
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Dr. Anita K Patel
Dr. Anita K Patel is a double board-certified Pediatrician & Pediatric Critical Care Attending at Children’s National Medical Center. Most importantly, she is someone who’s dedicated to helping children thrive and supporting the parents who love them. She also serves as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington University School of Medicine.
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Dr. Ashley Marie Cozzo
Dr. Ashley Marie Cozzo is a double board-certified neonatologist, pediatrician, and mother dedicated to improving the health and well-being of mothers and infants. Her work bridges newborn critical care with the long-term health of families, advancing equitable, family-centered support beyond hospital discharge. As an advocate for child health and equity, Dr. Cozzo uses her voice to demand policies that protect children, support families, and reduce disparities in maternal–infant care. She is recognized as a Connecticut Magazine Top Doctor and Castle Connolly Rising Star for her leadership.
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Dr. Lara Jones
Dr. Lara Jones is a double board certified Pediatric Critical Care physician, mother, and child-health advocate committed to protecting children through evidence-based medicine and bold public advocacy. Through @AskLaDoctora, she empowers families with trusted medical education and mobilizes healthcare professionals to speak up when children are at risk.
In the News
What we are doing
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Calling for Immediate Release of Children
A formal letter has been sent to federal leadership urging the release of children from detention facilities. The letter outlines the medical risks and ethical violations of prolonged detention.
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Funding Direct Relief
Through Each Step Home, funds go directly into:
• Commissary accounts for detained families
• Supplies for infants and children
• Emergency resettlement support
• Basic necessities for families released with nothing -
Elevating Medical Evidence in Congress
We are meeting with senators and representatives. Support is building. Media outlets are reporting. Congressional offices are engaging. This is only the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Dr. Patel, Dr. Jones and Dr. Cozzo connected as physicians watching children suffer in detention. All of us were watching the same reports, seeing the same images, hearing the same stories from the ground. Then came the urgent plea to release detained children. A two month old baby. Families with no access to basic pediatric standards. That was the moment everything changed.
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Children, including infants, are currently being held in detention facilities without consistent access to evidence based pediatric care.
We are pediatric physicians who came together after witnessing urgent reports of infants and young children in unsafe conditions. One case involving a two month old baby became a catalyst. It made clear that waiting was not an option.
Within days, we organized a national effort that includes:
• A formal letter calling for the release of children from detention
• Direct financial support for detained and newly released families
• Coordination with reporters and congressional offices
• Ongoing medical advocacy for transparency and standards of careOur mission is simple: children do not belong in detention, and no child should be subjected to substandard medical care.
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There are three powerful ways to help right now:
1. Contact Your Representatives
We provide a simple script you can use to call, text, or email your senators and representative. It takes just a few minutes and makes a real impact.2. Donate
Funds raised go directly to families through Each Step Home. Donations support commissary accounts, infant supplies, clothing, hygiene items, and emergency resettlement needs.3. Join Our Email List
Stay informed about policy updates, media coverage, and urgent action steps. When momentum builds, you’ll know exactly how to respond.Small actions, coordinated together, create pressure that moves policy.
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Children do not vote. They do not testify in committee hearings. They cannot advocate for themselves.
When policies affect access to healthcare, detention conditions, Medicaid funding, or basic safety, pediatricians see the consequences firsthand.
Health policy is child health policy.
Physicians have both an ethical responsibility and a clinical obligation to speak when systems harm children. Advocacy is not separate from medicine. For children, it is part of the job.
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page. You can also send an email directly: anitakpatelmd@gmail.com.