State Spotlight - Connecticut

Last updated:  February 2008

Faith Vos Winkel, MSW
Assistant Child Advocate
Office of Child Advocate
999 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: 800-994-0939
Fax: 860-566-2251
Email: faith.voswinkel@ct.gov

Website: http://www.oca.state.ct.us/TheChildFac.htm

Tools
 Reports
Mortality Statistics Program Description

Administration
The Connecticut Child Fatality Review Panel was established by statute (Section 46A-131) in 1995.  The impetus for the program came about because of a high profile infant death.  The Governor convened two panels.  One was established to look at this particular case for Children's Protective Services in order to make recommendations.  These recommendations led to the creation of the Child Advocate Office.  Child fatality review was featured in the Office of the Child Advocate statute. 

Reviews began in 1996. The program is housed out of the Office of the Child Advocate. The program’s annual budget is $65,000 which comes from the State of Connecticut. There is one full-time staff person that devotes full attention to the program.

Teams
Connecticut has a State Child Fatality Review Panel (CFRP) and no local teams. Initially, the CFRP was given the mandate of reviewing the circumstances involved in the death of a child who received service from a state department or agency addressing child welfare, social or human services or juvenile justice. In October 1999, the Governor and Legislature authorized the panel to review all unexpected or unexplained deaths. 

There is established a child fatality review panel composed of thirteen permanent members as follows: The Child Advocate, or a designee; the Commissioners of Children and Families, Public Health and Public Safety, or their designees; the Chief Medical Examiner, or a designee; the Chief State's Attorney, or a designee; a pediatrician, appointed by the Governor; a representative of law enforcement, appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; an attorney, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; a social work professional, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; a representative of a community service group appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; a psychologist, appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; and an injury prevention representative, appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. A majority of the panel may select not more than three additional temporary members with particular expertise or interest to serve on the panel. Such temporary members shall have the same duties and powers as the permanent members of the panel. The chairperson shall be elected from among the panel's permanent members. The panel shall, to the greatest extent possible, reflect the ethnic, cultural and geographic diversity of the state.

The panel shall review the circumstances of the death of a child placed in out- of-home care or whose death was due to unexpected or unexplained causes to facilitate development of prevention strategies to address identified trends and patterns of risk and to improve coordination of services for children and families in the state. Members of the panel shall not be compensated for their services, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

On or before January 1, 2000 , and annually thereafter, the panel shall issue an annual report which shall include its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on its review of child fatalities for the preceding year.

Upon request of two-thirds of the members of the panel and within available appropriations, the Governor, the General Assembly or at the Child Advocate's discretion, the Child Advocate shall conduct an in-depth investigation and review and issue a report with recommendations on the death or critical incident of a child. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the General Assembly and the commissioner of any state agency cited in the report and shall be made available to the general public.

The Chief Medical Examiner shall provide timely notice to the Child Advocate and to the chairperson of the child fatality review panel of the death of any child that is to be investigated pursuant to section 19a-406.

Any agency having responsibility for the custody or care of children shall provide timely notice to the Child Advocate and the chairperson of the child fatality review panel of the death of a child or a critical incident involving a child in its custody or care.

 The team has seven permanent members and meets monthly. These members include a pediatrician, law enforcement, the Office of the Child Advocate, a public child welfare practitioner, a representative of a community service group, a medical examiner and the Chief State’s Attorney. Two additional temporary members with particular expertise and interest may serve on the review of a specific fatality.

Reviews
The medical examiner identifies the deaths for the Panel to review.  However, statute allows the Panel to review any death that occurs in the state.  There is a particular emphasis on children placed in out-of-home care.  They review cases to children that are less than 18 years old.  The Panel reviews about 140 deaths per year and can subpoena records and witnesses for the review process if they choose.  Some child death reviews will become full fatality investigations that result in a public report.

Purpose
The main purpose of the Connecticut CFR Program is to provide services and prevent child deaths. The panel’s purpose is to save lives by learning from lives lost.

Data
Standardized data forms are completed for all cases reviewed.

Annual Report
Connecticut does produce an annual report. To date, they have distributed over 500 copies to the Governor, legislators, child advocates, all police chiefs, other law enforcement officials, libraries and the media. It is also available on the programs web site. This report contains findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Connecticut holds a media event for the release of their report.  They also report on past recommendations that were never implemented.  This is especially important because many recommendations have been included in multiple reports.

Prevention Initiatives
The Panel tends to focus on policy/global issues.  Examples include tightening up the graduated drivers licensing law, suicide prevention initiatives and partnering.   Other examples include an outreach program which was initiated to the larger child welfare system to begin to develop a framework for collaborative prevention initiatives. There has also been collaboration with local and statewide prevention groups. The panel’s data supports their initiatives. The panel has also participated in the local shaken baby/abusive head trauma initiatives.

Training
The CFRP provides training on the process and program mandate which is funded by the State of Connecticut.