Background: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) fatalities are the most extreme consequence of child maltreatment. Counting and detailing the circumstances surrounding fatal CAN, as well as other preventable deaths, is a critical part of a public health approach to CAN prevention. For nearly two decades, California has struggled locally and statewide to address this need, through expansion of local Child Death Review Teams (CDRTs) and creation of a State Child Death Review Council. Methods: A new California state law mandates the establishment of a statewide surveillance system for tracking CAN fatalities. Working with the state Child Death Review Council, the EPIC Branch is implementing the new Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect Surveillance (FCANS) Program based upon the existing network of county Child Death Review Teams (CDRTs). Formative and process evaluations are being used to track implementation progress and adjust program standards and procedures. Results: This presentation will describe the FCANS Program, the Standards and Protocols Manual and data forms, and progress to date on implementation. A summary of the initial results from the submitted standard data form will be reviewed. Conclusions: Implementation of a surveillance system built upon this loose network of voluntary CDRTs holds out the promise to not only provide more accurate counts of fatal CAN, but also provide detailed information on other preventable deaths for use in developing injury prevention programs and policies. Barriers and lessons learned will be highlighted. Implications for the way national estimates of fatal CAN are generated will also be drawn. See www.dhs.ca.gov/cdic/epic/html/FatalCAN.htm
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Describe the structure and functioning of the California state child death review (CDR) system; 2) Articulate how a public health approach is being used in the FCANS Program; and 3) Identify at least two limitations that hinder the effectiveness of the CDRTs in terms of prevention planning and programming and how the FCANS Program is addressing them.
Keywords: Children, Violence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of State of California which funds the FCANS Program