Child Fatality Review Team
Child Fatality Review:
A child’s death is a tragic event that should push communities to identify risk and preventable causes of illness or injury. Child fatality review prioritizes prevention and promotes recommendations and actions to prevent future child deaths. Sixteen local teams have been formed across New York State (NYS).
The Nassau County Child Fatality Review Team:
The Nassau County Child Fatality Review Team (NCCFRT) is a multidisciplinary team that has functioned since December 2008 as a NYS approved child fatality review team as provided in
New York State Social Services Law (SSL) §422-b working under the supervision of the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). The team was created to review fatalities of Nassau County residents age 0-17 years whose death is unexpected or unexplained.
Mission
The mission of the NCCFRT is to review child deaths to better understand the causes of these deaths and to make recommendations based on the team’s findings in order to reduce future child fatalities.
Membership
Membership in the CFRT is defined by SSL §422-b. This statute requires the participation of certain local governmental agencies and private individuals. SSL § 442-b also allows for the appointment of associate members from various fields of practice. Mandatory team members include Nassau County Child Protective Services, Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Nassau County Department of Health, Nassau County Office of the Medical Examiner, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Office of the Nassau County Attorney, Nassau County Police Department, Emergency Medical Services, New York State Law Enforcement and a pediatrician with expertise in child abuse. The team has added additional members with expertise relevant to child fatality prevention and/or review.
Process:
Information regarding a case is gathered and presented at meetings in a systematic fashion. Contributing factors to the death are identified. The team then has the ability to analyze patterns of child deaths and make recommendations for preventing future child fatalities. The NCCFRT meetings are confidential and closed to the public. A confidentiality statement is signed by each member at the start of each team meeting. The team follows a protocol and procedure manual, in accordance with New York State Social Service Law §§ 20(5) and 422-b, along with OCFS guidelines. The Team has the authority to prepare Informational releases to address various safety issues.
This website contains information regarding the findings and activities of the NCCFRT. It is not designed to be a comprehensive injury prevention resource but rather a working guide to the process.
Articles:
AAP Policy Statements:
- Child Fatality Review-September 2010
- Choking-March 2010
- Drowning Prevention-July 2010
- Safe sleep- November 2011
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Child Injury Information
Brochures/Pamphlets:
Drowning
- Bath tub safety-English and Spanish (pdf)
- Long Island Drowning Prevention Task Force (pdf)
- Pool safety (pdf)
- Childhood Drowning Prevention - May 2013
Safe Sleep
- Safe Sleep for Babies - English(pdf)
- Safe Sleep for Babies - Spanish (pdf)
- FDA positioned warning-September 2010
Choking
- Choking Poster - English(pdf)
- Choking Poster - Spanish(pdf)
- Choking on Food: A Risk for All Children - January 2013 (pdf)
- Choking Brochure(pdf)
Informational and Press Releases
- Safe sleep-September 2010
- Halloween safety: 2011
- Summary Report: 2009-2010
- Choking on Food: A Risk for All Children - January 2013
- Childhood Drowning Prevention - May 2013
- Summary Report: 2011-2012
Resources:
- American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
Provides information on car safety, Internet safety, seasonal safety, travel safety and other safety topics.
Phone: 847-434-4000
- Consumer Products Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/
Provides consumer safety information and ensures the safety of consumer products, such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals.
Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270)
- First Candle
www.firstcandle.org/
Provides information on infant health and safety.
Phone 410-653-8226 or 800-221-7437
- International Center on Child Death Review
http://ican-ncfr.org/
Clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information and resources related to child deaths. Provides training and technical assistance to child death review teams.
Phone: 626-455-4585
- National Center for the Review & Prevention of Child Deaths
http://childdeathreview.org/
Resource center for state and local Child Death Review programs. Promotes, supports and enhances child death review methodology activities at state, community and national levels.
Phone: 800-656-2434
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/
Provides information on various issues including domestic violence, adoption, foster care, child abuse, childcare and community services.
Phone: 518-473-7793
- New York State Safe Kids Coalition
http://www.safekidsnystate.org/
Provides education for adults and children about specific injury prevention.
Phone: 516-465-2500
- Prevent Child Injury
- Safe Kids USA
http://www.usa.safekids.org/
Promotes fire safety, car safety and home safety to both adults and children.
Phone: 202-662-0600
