3193.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - 4:45 PM

Abstract #25591

Progress in Developing a National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)

James A. Mercy, PhD, Division of Violence Prevention, NCIPC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K60, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, 770-488-4723, jam2@cdc.gov

CDC is working with states and other partners to establish a state-based violent death reporting system (NVDRS) to: (1) provide states with the capacity to make informed decisions about local policies and programs using objective and timely information, (2) answer policy- and program-relevant questions concerning the magnitude, trends, and characteristics in violent deaths, and (3) evaluate the effectiveness of state-based violence prevention policies and programs. The purpose of this presentation will be to review progress in the development of this system and the opportunities and challenges that must be addressed in order to realize nationwide establishment of the NVDRS. Activities that are currently underway include efforts to gain the understanding, input, and support of key stakeholders (e.g., Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the National Association of Public Health Statistics and Information Systems, the National Association of Medical Examiners, and the Department of Justice), pilot studies to assess state/local implementation of the NVDRS by the National Firearm Injury Statistics System at Harvard, and pilots to assess the utility and validity of child death review data for the NVDRS. The costs of full implementation of the system are also being more precisely estimated. The biggest challenge to widespread adoption of the NVDRS is convincing and demonstrating to policy-makers and the public that the collection of these types of data can play a critical role in the prevention of injuries and deaths associated with violence.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the participant will be able to: 1. Describe the purpose and design of the National Violent Death Reorting System (NVDRS) 2. Identify three opportunities and/or challenges to nationwide implementation of the NVDRS.

Keywords: Violence, Surveillance

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.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA