What is the Child Fatality Review Program?
In 1993, ARS 36-3501 established the Child Fatality Review Program to be administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The Child Fatality Review Program consists of multidisciplinary teams in 12 counties throughout the state. These local teams conduct detailed reviews of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of all children younger than 18 years of age. During each review, teams complete a standardized data form and develop recommendations for reducing preventable child deaths in Arizona.
Why is this program
needed?
The Child Fatality Review Program has successfully established 12 local child fatality review teams, with a total of approximately 250 team members. The state child fatality team provides oversight to local teams and prepares an annual statistical report on the incidence and causes of child fatalities. By November 15 each year, the program publishes the annual report summarizing the findings and makes recommendations to reduce child fatalities. Since its inception, report findings and recommendations have been used to educate the public on ways to improve the safety and health of children and have supported changes in policy and legislation to reduce childhood deaths. In addition to the annual report, the program prepares numerous specialty reports for organizations and individuals conducting research into the causes of child deaths in Arizona. Recommendations for prevention of child fatalities are prepared for elected officials, other policy makers, and the Arizona public.
What are the goals of
this program?
The goal of the Child Fatality Review Program is to reduce preventable child fatalities through systematic, multidisciplinary, multi-agency, and multi-modality reviews of child fatalities in Arizona. This is accomplished through interdisciplinary training and community-based prevention education and through data-driven recommendations for legislation and public policy. Recommendations incorporate the Spectrum of Prevention:
Influencing Policy & Legislation |
Changing Organizational Practices |
Fostering Coalitions & Networks |
Educating Providers |
Promoting Community Education |
Strengthening Individual Knowledge & Skills |
Created by Larry Cohen, Contra Costa Health Services Prevention Program - Find out more at http://preventioninstitute.org/tool_spectrum.html
What has this program
achieved?
The Child Fatality Review Program has successfully established 14 local child fatality review teams, with a total of approximately 250 team members. The state child fatality team provides oversight to local teams and prepares an annual statistical report on the incidence and causes of child fatalities. By November 15 each year, the program publishes the annual report summarizing the findings and making recommendations to reduce child fatalities. Since its inception, report findings and recommendations have been used to educate the public on ways to improve the safety and health of children and have supported changes in policy and legislation to reduce childhood deaths. The program’s annually published report outlines actions that each of us can take to prevent the un-timely deaths of Arizona’s children. In addition to the annual report, the program prepares numerous specialty reports for organizations and individuals conducting research into the causes of child deaths in Arizona. Recommendations for prevention of child fatalities are prepared for elected officials, other policy makers, and the Arizona public.
Need more information?
Jamie Smith, Program Manager
Child Fatality Review Program
150 N. 18th Avenue - Suite 320
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 364-1463
Fax: (602) 364-1496
Email: smithja@azdhs.gov
Website Links:
Publications:
View the Child Fatality Review publications on our Publications page.
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