Cuyahoga County has developed a novel approach to ensuring thorough coverage in their county-wide child death review. The Child Death Review Steering Committee (CDR) oversees three subcommittees: Data Review, Random Review and Coroner's Review. This three pronged approach captures: the trends in child deaths through review of vital records; family interview and medical review of a representative selection of twenty-five percent of non-coroner cases. Data is also compiled on all unexpected deaths examined by the coroner's office and suspicious cases are reviewed in depth. The support of the County Commissioners, County Board of Health, County Coroner's Office, and local hospitals, police, fire, children's services, schools and mental health organizations, has allowed consolidated information sharing between these many committed organizations and individuals. The CDR provides a more coordinated approach to addressing issues that overlap the different areas. This restructuring process met the primary objective of improving the capability to make locally specific recommendations for improved child health and safety. For the annual report, information is collected through case review and vital records data, local experts in child health, welfare, and specific areas of mortality are consulted, and agencies are polled to assess available resources. The report summarizes recent deaths and presents recommendations that have been developed through an iterative process with local experts, the subcommittees, the CDR and the local Family and Children First Council. This program maximizes efforts to monitor disparities in child mortality and to identify interventions that can have a measurable impact on them.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to discuss alternative approaches to gathering information on child deaths, and develop strategies to identify opportunities to reduce preventable deaths
Keywords: Children's Health, 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.