The Review, Vol. 6, Issue 3 (July-Sept. 2008)

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July-September 2008 Quarterly Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 3

"The Review" Office o f Child Fatality Review

CFR is Merging with the O.f.fice o f the Child Advocate
On May 12, Governor Sonny Perdue signed HB 1054, the Children and Family Services Strengthening Act of 2008. This legislation aims to restructure four agencies responsible for serving Georgia's children and families to better serve the state's child advocacy community. In addition to creating the combined funding agency called the Governor's Office for Children and Families (previously Children and Youth Coordi~latingCouncil and Children's Trust Fund), it allows the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to assume responsibility and oversight of the Office of Child Fatality Review. This consolidation of four agencies into two larger ones becomes effective on July 1,2008.

There are some small changes that will happen as a result of the consolidation. The Office of Child Fatality Review will no longer be located in Marietta but will move to downtown Atlanta at the end of July. The new office space will be at 55 Park Place, Atlanta 30303. While CFR staff will have increased access to OCA-Atlanta staff and resources, the OCA-Macon office will remain in Macon.

We are pleased to report that the staff and work functions of CFR will remain the same. Our combined agency will be called OCAIOCFR,but our website and other identifyinginformationwill not change names. You will continue to find the CFR reports, prevention resources, and other documents on our existing website (www.gacfr.dhr.eeoraia.aov). For the county CFR teams, we will continue to be available for trainings and technical assistance regarding the fatality reports and review meetings, to provide assistance with developing your county prevention plans and safety promotion activities, and to produce our annual report at the end of every year. For the Child Abuse Protocol teams, we will continue to assist you in updating your county protocols, and providing trainings on policies and practices regarding child abuse investigation,treatment, and prevention. We will continue to provide all child advocates with the highest quality data, training, investigative support services, and safety resources to the best of our ability so that all of Georgia's children can live safer, healthier lives.

While there are always transition issues that come with a merger of this magnitude, we will continue to serve the dedicated team members in each county and keep you informed of any and all changes that may affect the work that you do. Please know that our service to you, and our support for the safety of children, remains our first priority.

Eva Pattillo, Executive Director
CFR Staff and Contact Information

I Inside this issue (

Executive Director Eva Pattillo (evag@bellsouth.net)

Program Managers Wende Parker (wrparker@dhr.state.ga.us)

CFR Merger Update 1

Staff Contaet Info

1

Administrative Assistant

Malaika Shakir (mashakir@dhr.state.ga.us) Policies in Georgia 2

Donna Mungin (donna-mu@bellsouth.net) Executive Secretary

After the office moves to downtown Atlanta, CFR Online Tutorial 2

Kimberly Riggins (kariggins@bellsouth.net)
Child Fatality Investigation %rector Rachelle Camesale (racamesale@dhr.state.ga.us)

our email addresses will remain the same but our phone and fax numbers will change. You will be notified of the new contact numbers (phone and fax) when they are confirmed. Please also check our website

Need to Know...OCA 3

Infant Safe Sleep

3

Prevention Efforts 3

Chid Fatality Prevention Specialist ) v -

for our new

Upcoming Events 4

Arleymah Raheem (araheem@dhr.state.ga.us)

direct contact information after July 31, 2008. CFR Timelines

4

Policies in Georgia: Swimming Pool Safety Guidelines
A new feature of this newsletter will be to inform you of policies and regulations around certain products and activities that may affect you and the work that you do with children and families. In order to bring you the most up-to-date information on rules, requirements, and policies enacted to keep kids safe from injury and death, we will be researching a different topic in each issue. If you would like to contribute to this article series at any time, please contact the Office.
Because summer brings hot weather, many families cool off in the swimming pool. However, the number one reason for drowning and submersion injuries among young children comes from poor adult supervision. While there is no Georgia state law that mandates private pools to be fenced and gated, we do know of several local jurisdictions that require (or are in the process of requiring) private pool fences and other safety measures to help keep your kids safe. For example, Henry County, Gwinnett County, and Peachtree City, along with several other counties and municipalities use a variation of the following language to ensure residential swimming pool safety:
A pool shall be enclosed by a securityfence of not less thanfour (4)feet in heightfrom ground level. All aboveground pools which are greater thanfour (4)feet in height shall not be required to be enclosed by afence, but the entrance to such pool shall be restricted with a gate. A gate shall be installed at all entrances to any deck structure attached to such pool and/or at all ladder structures accessing such pool. AN gates and doors opening through a swimmingpool fence must be self-closing and self-latching, and must swing out away@om the interior of thepool area. The required securityfence shall be installedprior to occupancy and/or any use of the swimmingpool. fiimmingpool fences or walls shall be designed to inhibit climbing by offering no hand holds or toe holds, and they shall have no horizontal exteriorparts.
The Insurance Information Institute also recommends installing fencing and safety locks on your residential pool to reduce your liability should something happen. They recommend creating "layers of protection", setting up as many barriers as possible to prevent access to the pool without your permission (door alarms, locks, and safety covers). If somebody uses your swimming pool without your permission, you can still be held responsible for any corresponding liability.
We are also pleased to inform you that a new federal pool and spa safety law was signed by the President on December 19,2007. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires that by December 19,2008, all public pools and spas have safety drain covers, and in certain circumstances, an anti-entrapment system. The goal of the law is to improve the safety of all pools and spas by increasing the use of layers of protection and promoting uninterrupted supervision to prevent child drowning and entrapments.
The CFR Online Tutorial is Waitingfor You!
The CFR Online Tutorial is fmally active! Unfortnnately, there were some technical delays that we could not predict, and the tutorial was not ready for the start of the CFR training season. We certainly appreciate your patience as we worked feverishly to have this course ready for you. But it is up and running now, and we ask that all CFR members log in and test your knowledge of the CFR process and purpose.
If you are a DHR employee, and you want to receive credit from DHR for completing an online training course, you MUST log into the DHR Learning Management System (LMS) and enroll in the course from that site directly(htt~://www.lms.dhr.state.~a.us/loon.asYu)o.u will need your 8-digit DHR employee number, and the DHR
LMS password to log in. Once you are logged in, you should *click* on "DHR courses" on the left side of the page, and from there, *click* on the "DHRweb based training" located at the top right comer of the page. You will see a
list of DHR web training courses available to you; the "Georgia Child Fatality Review Online Tutorial" is located on the second page of that list (there are only 10 courses listed on each page within that screen, and the CFR tutorial is # 12). There is no certificate of completion at the end of the course, but you may request one from CFR.
If you are not a DHR employee, or if you are not concerned with DHR having an official record of any online coursework that you complete, you MUST log into the web-based portal through the CFR website. Once on the CFR homepage, there is a link at the bottom of the page directing you to *click here*. That link will take you to the DHROHRMD webpage (http://ohrmd.dhr.state.pa.us/ohrmd/Traininp/OnlineCourses. hfml).Scroll down to the bottom of the OHRMD webpage, and you will find the box for non-DHR and contract employees to access. When you *click* on the "Georgia Cbild Fatality Review Online Tutorial", a new screen will open that asks only for your password. The password is countvteam. You must type this password in ALL lowercase letters, with no space between the words. Once you have completed the course, you can print a certificate of completion for your records.
You should allow one to two hoursfor completing the course. Ifyou have anyproblems, checkfirst thatyou have disabled all pop-up blockers, and thatyou have the latest versions ofAdobe Reader, ActiveX, and Java installed on your computer.

What You Need to Know about the Office of the Child Advocate
The Office of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children (OCA) was created legislatively in 2000. Their legislation (O.C.G.A. 15-11-70 et seq.) requires them "to provide independent oversight of persons, organizations, and agencies responsible for providing services to or caring for children who are victims of child abuse and neglect, or whose domestic situation requires intervention by the state". OCA has authority to communicate privately with children, parents, and guardians; to access all records and files, including subpoena power; to inspect facilities, institutions, and residences; to receive grants; and to engage in public education and legislative advocacy. The core functions of OCA are: (1) individual case investigation and resolution, (2) evaluation of systemic performance, such as with county audits, annual reports, and policy papers, (3) policy and legislative advocacy, and (4) education.
OCA acts as the state ombudsman for child welfare and juvenile justice matters. The OCA vision is to be the first place for those in government or the private sector to turn for advice, assistance, and aid regarding the at-risk families and foster children of Georgia. OCA Director Tom Rawlings says, "At OCA, we have been moving toward using the data about child welfare outcomes to recommend policy and practice changes. We are taking a public health approach to child injuries and deaths from all causes, using the data we collect to help develop responses that will keep Georgia's children safer and provide them the help and assistance they need."
Infant Safe Sleep Community Education Programs
The Infant Safe Sleep Work Group of Fulton and DeKalb (ISSWG) counties has been working on ways to reduce risks for unsafe sleep among infants. The ISSWG received a community grant from the March of Dimes in January 2008 to conduct a workshop on infant safe sleep for healthcare providers, home visitors, community workers, case workers, volunteers, and others who work with
parents and caretakers of infants. Two workshops have been presented - one in Fulton County and one in DeKalb - to a total of 43
participants, including foster parents, nurses, home visitors, and daycare providers. The workshop included information on the latest available data about sleeping-related deaths, risk factors, recommendations for safe sleep space, and ways that organizations can get the message out to parents and providers. If you would like additional information on the issue and the workshops please contact Sarah O'Leary at saolearv~dhr.state.pa.us

Prevention Efforts in 2008

"On-the-Line" with CWLA, a production of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) hosted by broadcasting veteran Tony Regusters is a thoughtprovoking, interactive Internet based live radio program focusing on subjects, stories and strategies that are of special interest to child welfare policyrnakers, providers and practitioners. "On-the-Line" with CWLA, broadcast LIVE on Wednesdays from 2:00 2:30pm EST and features in-depth and timely discussions with leading child welfare experts, agents and advocates; with the leadership and representatives from CWLA's member agencies; and with local and national political figures who are all working to improve America's child welfare paradign-and provides a public platform for child welfare professionals who stand and speak for vulnerable children and youth nationwide. Call 347-326-9411 or log on to www.blogtaIkradio.com/CWLA-Radioto listen!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a great e-newsletter available on their website (www.cpsc.gov). This newsletter highlights many common safety hazards each season and how to avoid them. It also provides information on product recalls and spotlights people who are working to make a difference in the lives of children and families. Check it out today!
(orrgino~ryeported m AJC, 4/23/08)Congratulations to the Georgia Department of Transportation, which is installing concrete barriers along 13.3 miles of Ga. 400 to prevent cross-over wrecks. The DOT is also working to erect concrete barriers on the busy lanes of other state highways along 1-985 in Gwinnett and Hall counties, and on 1-85 through Gwinnett, Barrow, Jackson, and Banks counties. Research shows that concrete barriers between traffic lanes can significantlyreduce the chances of a car crashing into oncoming traffic.

Together Everyone Achieves

Do you have a great program or idea that you want to share? Let us know and share your story with others! We look forward to hearing from you!
Please submit your stories of success or other ideas by September 12,2008 to: The Office of Child Fatality Review 55 Park Place, 4th floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
www.gacfr.dhr.aeorgia.gov

Upcoming Events

July 13-15,2008: Prevent Child Abuse Georgia is holding their 24th Annual Symposium ("The Power of Prevention") at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta. Visit
www.vreventchildabuse~a.orgforregistration information.

~~~~~t 12-14,2008: The CDC sponsor the 2nd Annual National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and
Media in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.cdc.eov/ healthmarketing.

Ongoing 2008: Stop It Now! Georgia, a program of Prevent Child September 7-10,2008: Georgia Commission on Family Vio-

Abuse Georgia, is hosting several kee trainings to empower fami- lence Statewide Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in

lies and communities to prevent sexual abuse of children. Email Savannah. For more information,please visit www.~cfv.oreor

info~stopitnowga.orefor more information.

call 404-657-3412.

August 11-13,2008: Governor's Office of Highway Safety Conference ("Every Life Counts") will be held in Savannah at the Westin Harbor Golf and Spa Resort. Register online at www.eahiehwavsafetv.org.

October 15-18,2008: The Safe Kids Worldwide - Child Injury
Prevention Conference will be held in Washington, DC. To register or for more information, visit www.safekids.org.

November 14,2008: The 8th Annual Child Abuse and Neglect August 26-28,2008: The National Children's Advocacy Center is Conference sponsored by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will hosting their 9th National Conference on Child Sexual Abuse and he held at the Maniott Evergreen Conference Resort in Atlanta. Exploitation Prevention to be held at the Maniott Convention Cen- For more information, call Betty Fitzpatrick at 404-785-7356 or ter in New Orleans, LA. Registration information can be found at bettv.fitmatrick@,choa.org. www.nationalcac.org.

CFR Deadlines and Timelines
All county fatality review reports for child deaths that occurred in 2007 should be submitted using the online
reporting form by July 31, 2008. The online reporting form can be found on our website at www.gacfr.dhr.georgia.gov. If you have any problems using the CFR online reporting system or if you need more information to complete your committee reviews, please contact the Office at 770-528-3988.
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Office of Child Fatality Review 506 Roswell Street, Suite 230 Morietto Georgia. 30060 Phone: 770.528.3988 Fax: 770.528.3989 Webrite: www.sacf~.dhr.soo~lia.aav

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In a n effort to facilitate information sharing, we have developed this newsletter to bring us closer. Knowing that our goal is the protection of children and the prevention of child deaths, we want to include your experiences and ideas to improve the quality of services we provide. Please contact us with any suggestions on how to make the
Office of Child Fatality Review process helpful to you.
Go Team!