Multiagency death review, family violence prevention and public health

Multiagency Death Review Teams began in Los Angeles in 1978. All states had state and/or local teams by 2001. Canada and Australia began teams in the 1990s followed by New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and the UK. The National Fatal Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative, NDVFRI supports teams that address fatal domestic violence in the US and Canada. Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams are beginning. More than 150 countries have visited the ICAN National Center for Child Fatality Review web site, ican-ncfr.org. Teams include coroners, law enforcement, prosecutors, health, public health, mental health, schools and advocates for children, women, and the elderly. Teams learn to work together and extend that intervention before death and prevention programs. About 1,000 teams exist, connecting professions and connecting, counties, states and occasionally nations. Public health adds data analysis and gains unique injury data. Public Health Nursing may find a peer group with that actually visits people homes with law enforcement, coroner investigators, Fire EMT and child protective services. The maze of agencies and individuals learn to cross lines and work together collecting case data, and sharing prevention and intervention programs. Child and Adult victim teams work together to address family violence that involves parent and child victim. This network of networks is much more than its individual parts and members, including public health can be more effective in their separate professions .The new APHA Family Violence Prevention Forum will connect to this maze. Death Review Teams and public health will benefit.