The Review, Vol. 5, Issue 1 (Jan.-Mar. 2007)

January-March 2007 Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 1

"The Review" Office of Child Fatality Review

Partners in Prevention: How Can We Work Together For SUCCESS?!
The Child Fatality Investigation Program works to promote and facilitate teamwork in the investigation of suspicious child death. This multi-disciplinary approach generally involves local teams comprised of law enforcement, children's services, a medical examinerlcoroner and the district attorney. Jurisdictions using this team approach find that there is less conflicting action on the part of agencies and much better information gathering. Medical examiners are medical doctors specializing in performing autopsies and the various subsequent tests to determine cause and manner of death. Some jurisdictions in Georgia, mainly in the Atlanta area, have their own local medical examiners. All otherjurisdictions rely on the GBI Crime Lab for autopsies. Thosejurisdictions, by necessity, also have coroners. Coroners are elected officials charged with conducting investigations into deaths, requesting autopsies and documenting several aspects of the death. Often, coroners have the best opportunity to provide early information about statements made by caregivers and the death scene. Both coroners and medical examiners, or their investigators, can provide tremendous insight into factors at the scene or in statements. In jurisdictions using a team approach, members of the team typically attend the autopsy and participate in continuing discussions about the investigation with the examining doctor. The investigation often largely unfolds during and just after the autopsy as team members learn about the relevant findings in the autopsy. The doctor performing the autopsy can literally show members the important aspects of the exam, educating members as to the relevant medical dynamics in child homicide cases. If your jurisdiction is interested in receiving information about this subject or about multi-disciplinary teamwork on child death investigations, consider enrolling in this program. Contact Rachelle Carnesale, J.D., at racarnesale@dhr.state.g;a.usfor more information.

Happy New Year!!Safety n p sfor Friends and Family!

February 2007:

National Burn Awareness Week,February 5-11

Develop and practice a home escape plan. Make sure it includes two ways out of the

house, a meeting place outside, and a way to contact the fire department once you are out-

side. Practice the plan regularly to help children remember what to do when there is a fire

Child Passenger Safety Week,February 12-18

Safe Kids Worldwide is promoting a new Safety Belt Fit Test and distributing a free Par-

ent Toolkit to help parents and caregiversknow when it is safe to graduate their young-

sters to adult safety belts

National Donor Day, February 14

Encourage friends and family to donate blood, marrow and organs to help save the life of

I a parent br child in need. he number of children waiting for all types of transplants has
doubled in the past decade. Call Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at 1-800-605-6175to

New Year

Tips

I

find out more information March 2007:

CFR Program Surveys 2

National Poison Prevention Week,March 19-25

CFR Training 2007 2

Safe Kids Worldwide and the Cardinal Health Foundation are introducing a new national

poison prevention campaign featuring an animated pill bottle, designed to educate parents Panel Profile Page 3

and caregivers about the risks of medication-related poisoning to children American Red Cross Month

Legislation for 2007 3

Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work, and in your community. Prevention Efforts 3

Get trained in first aid, CPR and other courses. Meet with your neighbors to plan how Upcoming Events 4 your neighborhood can cope in an emergency. Call 1-800-REDCROSStoday

2006 CFR Program Evaluation Survey Results: How are we doing?
In the spring of 2006, Office staff asked 667 CFR members to complete a short survey during the committee trainings. The evaluations of that survey would help us to learn about the successes and challenges of the program. We asked you to tell us what you knew about the CFR process, what was working, and what we could do better to help child-focused agencies and the general public understand Child Fatality Review, and how we can do a better job in preventing child deaths. This is what you told us.
Three areas were examined in the survey: knowledge of process, knowledge of outcomes and areas of improvement. It is encouragingto note that 80% of respondents l l l y understand the process and activities associated with a committee review and report of child deaths. However, 25% of committee members could not identify all seven agencies who are mandated to participate in CFR committees, and almost 30% did not understand the need for the 67-day timeline to review and submit reports. In the area of program marketing and public awareness, the survey revealed that 48% of respondents felt that the CFR program is not successfullymarketed to the media, and 51% felt that it is not successfully marketed to the general public. We hope to begin addressing these issues in the coming year.
When asked if the respondent's committee activities and efforts were helping to reduce preventable child deaths in the county, more than half (65%) agreed, although a significant number were unsure (28% chose "I don't know"). Similarly, 69% of respondents expressed confidence in the activities and efforts of CFR office staff to help reduce child deaths in the state.
Perhaps the most interesting and relevant of the three areas were improvements realized. Respondents were asked if they could identify community-level changes in policy or practice as a result of CFR activities, and 43% felt that they could. In regards to state-level policy or practice, 41% could identify changes as a result of CFR activities. This is another area that the office staff is committed to addressing, so that all members are aware of the positive changes in policy and agency practice that are driven by the work of the committees.
The survey also revealed that nearly all respondents (95%) believe that the CFR program is worthwhile. However, we wanted to know what areas could be improved to make it a more effective, and more efficient process. The majority of respondents told us that they wanted more relevant training and education (87%), more committee member buy-in (84%), stronger legislation (75%), more law enforcement1GBI involvement (77%), more coroner1medical examiner involvement (76%), and more district attorney involvement (73%).
We appreciate your feedback as we develop ways to make CFR more effective in assisting communities in the prevention of child injury and deaths. We are committed to making this organization as helphl as possible for you.
. It 's CFR Committee Training Season Again.. !
Child Fatality Review committees must attend a regional training once each year to learn new policies, procedures and information relevant to the CFR process. The 2006 training season was a huge success, as we presented new information on youth suicide and "choking games" among adolescents, Family Connection partnerships in prevention, and other exciting topics. The 2007 training agenda promises to be even more educational, with speakers on domestic violence and child abuse, organ donation for children, and using easy websites to do injury prevention in your community. The 2007 training calendar will run from April to June. All members are encouraged to attend the training with their entire team, and great prizes will be awarded to those teams who attend together. You can find the training calendar and registration forms at www.aacfr.dhr.aeorg;ia.~ovu,nder "trainingsyy.Registration forms can be faxed or emailed to the Office. The counties selected to host a training are: Cherokee, White, Clarke, Clayton, Carroll, Richmond, Putnam, Spalding, Muscogee, Houston, Baldwin, Chatham, Sumter, Ben Hill, Dougherty, Glynn, Ware, Telfair, and Lowndes. Please attend a training that is located in a county within or near your judicial circuit.
Page 2

CFR Panel Profile Page

Gloria Butler, Georgia State Senator

State Senator Gloria Butler of the 55thDistrict is Child Fatality Review's newest Panel member. Senator Butler was first elected to office in 1998 and is now the highest ranking female in the Georgia State Senate. She is impressed by the in-depth information provided by Child Fatality Review Committees and commented that the cumulative statistics provided by committees are greatly needed by legislators for drafting and passing legislation. Senator Butler believes that the information provided in the Panel's annual report can effectively influence and convince colleagues to support legislation that works toward protecting our state's children. She understands that time constraints sometimes make it difficult for committees to meet and review the causes of child fatalities.

Senator Butler would like to communicate to the committees that their work with Child Fatality Review is a worthy undertaking because the ultimate goal of every review is to prevent future harm to our children. If you have any questions for Senator Butler, she can be reached at her office at 404-656-0075.
Important Legislation in 200 7
Starting January I st, there are new requirements for teen drivers in Georgia. Joshua's Law goes into effect on this day. Joshua's Law (SB 226) states that all teen drivers who are 16 years old must complete a driver education course approved by the Department of Driver Services in order to receive a Class D license. Teens who do not complete an approved driver education course must wait until age 17 to become licensed.

Mary Margaret Oliver (D-83rd) pre-filed two bills for the 2007 General Assembly session related to motor vehicles and cellular phones. House Bill 4 would make it illegal for motorists holding a learner's permit or a Class D license to drive while using a cellular phone. House Bill 5 would add penalty points to all drivers if cited for improperly using a cellular phone while driving. DeKalb County currently has a version of this law for its drivers who are involved in crashes.
County Prevention Efforts in 2006

Butts County On October 4, the Central Georgia EMC presented Susan Byers, Director of the Butts County Department of Family and Children's Services in Jackson, GA, a check for $3,500 as part of their annual "Operation Roundup" program. These h d s will be used for car seats, cribs, food cards, and food replenishment of the office food pantry. Through this grant, Butts County DFCS will be able to assist their clients in providing a safe and secure home for themselves and their children. Ms. Byers said, "Butts County DFCS is fortunate to have members of the community who care about and are concerned about our children and our families".

Jeff Davis County Members of the Jeff Davis County CFR committee distributed gun locks and prevention materials during their county fair. Their goal was to promote child safety as part of their community outreach.
Henry County The Henry County CFR committee participated in a community safety awareness event held annually at the McDonough Wal-Mart. Their tabletop presentation board described the activities of the CFR team. In addition, members distributed brochures and gun locks while talking to community members about injury prevention.

Have you got a great program that you want to share? Is your county doing some-

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thing that helps kids and parents to avoid injury and stay safe?

Take the time to

educate all of us and send a short story about activities, events and programs in

your county. We look forward to hearing from you!

Together Everyone Achieves

Please submit your county's stories of success or other ideas by March 16,2007 to: The Office of Child Fatality Review 506 Roswell Street, Suite 230 Marietta, Georgia 30060
Phone: (770)528-3988 Fax: (770)528-3989

Upcoming Events

January 22-26,2007: Medicolegal Death Investigator Health Programs Conference in Arlington, VA.

Training in St. Louis, MO. Please visit

Please visit www.cwla.or~conferencesfor more in-

www.medschool.slu.edu/mldi/for more information. formation.

February 8,2007: "CASA- Day at the Capitol" in At- April 3-7,2007: "Building Successful Teams Confer-

lanta. Please show your support for CASA by attend- ence" in Atlanta. Please visit the CFR website for

ing this event.

more information.

February 21,2007: "Family Connection- Day at the April 16-20,2007: The 15th "National Conference

Capitol" in Atlanta. Please show your support for Fam- on Child Abuse and Neglect" in Portland, OR. Call

ily Connection by attending this event.

703-528-0435 for more information.

March 3-7,2007: Association of Maternal and Child

CFR Deadlines and Timelines
We are now accepting nominations for the 2006 CFR Coroner of the Year, and CFR County Committee of the Year. If your coroner or county committee has done a great job this year promoting awareness or prevention of child deaths, take this opportunity to submit a nomination! Please submit your nominations using the form available on our website, or send us an email at gacfrstaff@dhr.state.p;a.us. CFR Committee Trainings will be held from April -June, 2007. The training dates and locations are posted on the CFR website (www.g;acfi.dhr.~zeornia.p;ov/trainin~asl)o,ng with the registration forms. Some locations fill up fast, so register for your training soon! Call 770-528-3988 for more information. 2006 CFR reports should be submitted to the Office no later than July 31,2007. Please call the Office if you need assistance in reviewing or reporting on 2006 child deaths. If your committee has not yet held a review meeting for all 2006 child deaths, please schedule one as soon as possible.
****** If you would like to receive this newsletter in your email inbox, or if you would prefer to access the newsletter on our website, please contact the Office to remove yourself from the mailing list***"

2Jmncbing outfor Prevetuion"
Office of Child Fatality Review
506 Roswell Street, Suite 230 Marietta Georgia, 30060 Phone: 770.528.3988Fax: 770.528.3989 Website: www.aacfr.dhr.aeorsia.aov

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT#292 MAFuETTA,GA

I n an effort tofacilitate information sharing, w e have developed this newsletter to bring us closer. Knowing that our is the protection of children and the prevention of child deaths, w e want to include your experiences and ideas to improve the quality of services w e provide. Please contact us w i t h any suggestions on how to make the
Office of Child Fatality Review process helpful to you.
G o Team!