Colorado - State Spotlight


State Spotlight - Colorado Last updated: April 2010 Rochelle Manchego, Program Coordinator Colorado Child Fatality Prevention System Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO 80264-1530 Phone: 303-692-2573 Fax: 303-691-7901 Email: Rochelle.manchego@state.co.us or cfr.committee@state.co.us Website: http://www.cochildfatalityreview.org Tools Colorado Child Death Review Legislation Reports Child Fatality Review in Colorado: A History 1989-2006 Child Fatalities in Colorado 1990-1994 Report Colorado Child Death Review Findings, 1997-2001 Local Team Reports Denver CFR Report 1997 - 2000, August 2001 Mortality Statistics Colorado Child Mortality Data, 2002 Colorado Child Mortality Data, 2003 Colorado Child Mortality Data, 2005 Colorado Child Mortality Data, 2006 Colorado Child Mortality Data, 2007 Program Description Administration Colorado's Child Fatality Prevention System was established in June of 2005 by legislative mandate. It replaced the Colorado Child Fatality Review Committee, which was established in 1989 by an interagency agreement between the departments of Human Service and Public Health and Environment. Colorado’s Child Fatality Prevention System (CFPS) is multidisciplinary and multi-agency. It is housed at the Department of Public Health and Environment and is funded in part by MCH Block and CAPTA federal funds. One full time staff coordinates the system and state review team.The CFPS staff serves on the states Maternal Mortality Review Committee and provides support in records administration. Teams Colorado's legislation mandates a state level team of forty-five members, including seventeen governor appointments, sixteen state agency representatives, and twelve professionals selected by discipline. The state team meets quarterly to discuss case review findings, prevention recommendations and policy issues. Colorado's legislation permits the existence of local child fatality prevention review teams by judicial district consisting of representatives of public and nonpublic agencies that provide services to children and their families and of other individuals who represent the community. Currently, there are five local review teams that are actively reviewing child death cases. The state Team does not provide oversight or funding to the local teams. Reviews The state team conducts a retrospective review of all deaths of children age 0 - 17 that occur in the state. The team has established subcommittees to conduct a clinical review process based on the following categories: natural causes, unintentional injuries, violence related, motor vehicle crashes, child abuse and neglect, and sudden infant death syndrome and undetermined deaths. Purpose Colorado utilizes a public health approach in the review of child fatalities for the purpose of prevention. The fatality review process is not investigative. Data Standardized data reporting forms are completed for all reviews. State vital records are utilized for case identification and demographic analysis. The CFPS is using the National MCH Center's data collection tool to capture circumstances and review data. Data analysis is usually completed when requested or when funding is available for projects and reports. Annual Report Colorado does not produce an annual report. The program has previously produced data reports and statistical briefs based on multiple years of findings and specific topical areas when funding was available. The CFPS State Review Team is mandated to report any recommendations for changes to law, rule or policy that the team has determined will promote the safety and well-being of children in Colorado. This report is produced on an annual basis for the Governor, the Senate and House Health and Human Services Committees and the Senate and House Judiciary Committees of the Colorado General Assembly. Prevention Initiatives CFR findings have influenced policy changes in Colorado. Recommendations by the review members have enacted statewide changes in policies, procedures and communication within state agencies and among local agencies that work with children and families. Fatality review findings have also motivated prevention activities in Colorado, such as the development of child passenger safety seat promotion programs, increase in seat belt usage and awareness, creation of graduated licensing law restrictions, and a public awareness campaign on bucket drowning prevention. Protocols Colorado has a confidentiality protocol in place. Training The Colorado CFR Committee members created a multidisciplinary training on infant and child injury and death investigation that has been offered statewide since 1997. Trainings have been supported by grant funds (MCHB & Children's Justice Act), registration fees and volunteer time of the trainers/members. Trainings are made possible by county agency requests when coordination and resources are available.