NCJ Number
150554
Date Published
1994
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This booklet presents the format, procedures, and content of a teleconference that advocates and provides guidance for the development of interdisciplinary child fatality review teams, which will investigate each child fatality in a jurisdiction to determine cause of death and recommend policies and actions to prevent such deaths in the future.
Abstract
The booklet first discusses the circumstance that warrants the establishment of child fatality review teams. The circumstance is the increasing number of child deaths and the apparent failure of public agencies to detect child abuse and neglect prior to many child fatalities due to abuse and neglect. The format for the teleconference was two 4-hour broadcasts aired on subsequent afternoons. It featured a combination of presenters, graphics, a video case study, and a mock meeting of a child death review team. A 150-page manual was provided to each of the 174 sites that registered for the telecast. This report is based on materials and live presentations of the faculty. The content of the presentations reflected the various disciplines of the presenters and members of a child fatality review team. Topics encompassed goals, organization, and legal issues; law enforcement; social services; emergency medical services; pediatrics; pathology; prosecution; public health; and mental health. Issues discussed included the benefits of the multiagency team approach, organizational issues, confidentiality, and the roles of team members. 8 references