Child abuse and neglect (CAN) fatalities are the most extreme consequence of child maltreatment, yet accurate counts of these tragic preventable deaths are not available. In California, a new state law came into effect January 1, 2000 that mandates the establishment of a statewide surveillance system for tracking CAN fatalities. Working with the state Child Death Review Council, California Department of Health Services, Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control (EPIC) Branch is responsible for implementing the new system based upon the existing network of local Child Death Review Teams (CDRTs). This presentation will review implementation progress to date. It will also present data from three years of annual Reconciliation Audits (1996-1998) in which fatal CAN cases identified from three state databases (Vital Statistics’ Death Records, Department of Justice’s Supplemental Homicide File and Child Abuse Central Index) are reconciled with local CDRTs case reviews. Reported results from the 1996 audit indicated that the calculated total number of CAN fatalities in California was 152, significantly more than the number recorded in any single statewide database (62,137 & 52 respectively). When completed, results from the 1997 and 1998 audits will be combined and more stable estimates and descriptive statistics will be presented.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe the need for more accurate counts of child abuse and neglect (CAN) fatalities. 2. Identify California’s existing databases used for tracking fatal CAN and at least three major problems it faces in getting accurate counts of CAN deaths. 3. Describe California’s current efforts to address fatal CAN through its new surveillance system. 4. Describe the role local Child Death Review Teams are playing in California’s surveillance system. 5. State the estimated number of fatal CAN cases for California over the 1996-8 period
Keywords: Family Violence, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: California Department of Health Services; California State Child Death Review Council;
Local county child death review teams
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by CA Dept. of Hlth. Services