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Child fatality review teams are multi-disciplinary,
multi-agency panels that review all child deaths regardless of the cause. In
Texas, formation of child fatality review teams in each county is authorized
by
Chapter 264 of the Family Code. These teams are uniquely qualified
to understand what no single agency or group working alone can: how and why
children are dying in their community.
Member Agencies
East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare Center,
Mental Health Professionals, Public Health Professionals, Smith County
District Attorney's Office, Smith County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department
of Family & Protective Services Child Protective Services, Trinity Mother
Frances Hospitals & Clinics and Tyler Police Department
Reveiw Process
The death of a child less than 18 years is reviewed if
the case is a natural death of a resident of Smith County or if it is an
injury death that occurred within the boundaries of Smith County, regardless
of residence. Stillbirths are not reviewed.
Categories of deaths requiring extensive review are:
homicide, injuries, suicide, undetermined manner, sudden or unexpected
deaths including SIDS, all Medical Examiner cases, all cases with previous
Department of Family & Protective Services Children's Protective
Services(CPS) involvement, and all cases investigated by law enforcement.
The presiding officer and the team coordinator compile
summary information for each death to be reviewed. These summaries are
provided to the other team members who search their files and obtain the
necessary data for a review. Each member presents their agency’s
investigation and/or historical information on the cases and families. Each
case ends with the question, “Was this a preventable death?” If the answer
is yes, the team is asked to identify possible interventions. The team
discussion could be lead to the recommendations for the State Committee.
The review process adheres to strict rules of
confidentiality. Team members sign a confidentiality agreement and may not
disclose any confidential information outside of the team. Records acquired
by the team are exempt from disclosure under the Open Records Law, Chapter
552 of the Government Code. Information, documents, and records are
confidential and are not subject to subpoena or discovery, and may not be
introduced into evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings. Furthermore,
the child protective services member of a team may not disclose information
from the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services records that
would identify an individual who reported an allegation of child abuse
and/or neglect.
For
more information, email the SCCFRT Coordinator at
jackie@cacsmithcounty.org. |