NCJ Number
120029
Journal
American Association for Protecting Children Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1989) Pages: 19-25
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article presents information on how various States review child fatalities.
Abstract
The District of Columbia is currently studying the feasibility of developing a child fatality review board. Florida's death review protocol is quite detailed and outlines the various steps in the review, those agencies and individuals who may be involved in the review and their responsibilities, and sets forth the reports which must be completed and the actions which must be taken. Most of the other reporting States fall somewhere in between this spectrum. Notably, Illinois has a regular review process for all child deaths attributable to abuse or neglect reported to the hotline of the State Central Register. These reports are entered in a special data file of child fatalities so they can be reviewed by child protection staff. Both Pennsylvania and Texas painstakingly review the cases to evaluate the adequacy of Child Protective Services system's response to the child or family. Other reporting States are Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia.