BOH minutes 052406 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 24, 2006 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 4 May 24, 2006 A. Child Fatality and Protection Team Annual Report Darrell Renfroe provided some background of the Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT) that was established in every county of the state by the North Carolina Juvenile Code. The charge of the CFPT is to review the records of all child fatalities in the county. Community Child Protection Teams (CCPT) was established in May of 1991. The original purpose and composition of the team was further formalized and expanded in 1993. The mandate to the CCPTs is, in part to review selected active cases in which children are being served by child protective services. Both teams are required by statute to submit reports annually to the State of North Carolina and to the local Board of Health and Board of County Commissioners containing any recommendations, and advocacy for system improvements and needed resources where deficiencies and gaps may exist. One example is the mandate that all children 16 and under must wear helmets when riding a bicycle. Another example is that all rental property must have smoke detectors and another recommendation was made that the legislature to pass a law requiring anyone that rides an all terrain vehicle wear a helmet and a law was passed. Dr. Carey asked what state agency received the recommendations from the committee and Mr. Renfroe explained that the CFPT goes to the Child Fatality Task Force at the state and they send it to the legislature. The review is done differently in different counties. In Orange County the CFPT reviews the most serious cases of maltreatment of young children. Moses Carey asked for clarification of the timeline for case studies. Mr. Renfroe explained that the CCPT review current cases and the CFPT review cases from the previous year. Rosemary Summers explained that the cases selected for study are computer selected based on built-in parameters but this can be overridden due to circumstances. The state requires the committee to be comprised of representatives from social services, the health department, guardian ad litem program, medical examiners office, law enforcement, EMS, the schools, mental health, and the district attorney’s office. Both groups started out separately but are now combined in most counties. The team meets every other month. Moses Carey asked for clarification on the selection and Mr. Renfroe explained that it is the jurisdiction is based on the county in which the child resides. The CPFT really looks at gaps that could have prevented the fatality. If a death is preventable the CPFT has to make a recommendation. The CCPT makes sure the families have resources available to enhance their ability to provide safe environments for their children. The committee reviewed 21 child deaths this last year and the year before 14. In the last 6 years the committee has reviewed 8 SIDS deaths, 3 of which were this year. Prematurity is the most common child death reviewed, (died within 24 hours of birth). Others cases involved cardiomyopathy, asphyxiation, accidental poisoning, car accidents, leukemia, bone cancer, and Edwards Syndrome. Alan Rimer asked if the predominant reason for the premature deaths was lack of adequate prenatal care. Mr. Renfroe explained that many times it is not something that is preventable.