The first child fatality review team (CFRT) in Texas was organized in Dallas as a pilot project in 1992. In 1995, legislation was enacted which created a CFRT state committee responsible for developing an understanding of the causes and incidence of child fatalities and to identify procedures and make recommendations to reduce the number of preventable child deaths. The state committee operates under the collaborative efforts of 3 state agencies: The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Protective Services; The Texas Department of Health; and The Children’s Trust Fund Council of Texas. Each of these agencies has specific responsibilities for developing and aiding local CFRTs and improving professional response to child deaths. Each year local teams review and report on more than half the nearly 4,000 child deaths that occur among Texas residents. The information from these reviews has been used to promote legislative and policy changes as well as numerous local prevention initiatives. Such efforts include the development and dissemination of a protocol for death scene investigations, recommendations for revisions of driver’s and passenger safety legislation, and local and statewide responses to child suicide. Some of the ongoing challenges to be addressed include developing interstate coordination in review teams along state borders, establishment of rural teams, and translating data into prevention activities.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able: 1) to describe the child fatality review process in Texas, 2) identify at least two accomplishments of the review process; and 3) identify barriers to the Texas system.
Keywords: Death,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.