State Spotlight - Delaware

Last updated:  September 2006

Anne Pedrick, MS
Executive Director
Child Death, Near Death, Stillbirth Commission (CDNDSC)
900 King Street, Suite 220
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-3341
Phone: (302) 255-1760
Fax:  (302) 577-1129
Email: anne.pedrick@state.de.us

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Program Description

Administration
The Child Death Review Commission was established in 1995.  The Commission's mission is to safeguard the children of Delaware by examining the deaths of children under the age of 18.  The state allocated funding (Fiscal Year 05) for three full time employees to operate the program.  Part of this effort was to develop a strong collaboration with the Child Protection Accountability Commission to satisfy CAPTA requirements for near death reviews.  In Fiscal Year 06, three FIMR (fetal infant mortality review) positions were allocated to CDNDSC.  A pilot study was completed and the program is currently being developed.  Target start date for FIMR Community Resource Teams is anticipated for January 2007.  The CDNDSC program is housed out of the Administrative Offices of the Court for administrative purposes only.  An executive committee of the Delaware Child Death, Near Death and Still birth Commission supervises the program.   

Teams
Delaware has three child death review teams and a governing state commission.  The Commission Members are either designated by position as outlined in the state statute or are appointed by the Governor.  The Commission chair is elected annually.  It is anticipated that FIMR will have three community resource teams including action teams to report to the state Commission.

State Team(s):
Two county teams and one abuse/neglect panel review near death and deaths due to abuse/neglect.  The teams are each comprised of multi-disciplinary members and meet monthly.

Reviews
Delaware reviews the deaths of children under the age of 18, near deaths of abused and/or neglected children and stillbirths occurring after at least 20 weeks of gestation.  Cases not due to abuse or neglect are not reviewed if court proceedings are pending.  Child maltreatment deaths and near deaths now go through an expedited review process and a final review process after the prosecution is finalized.  This is done in an attempt to alleviate any immediate system concerns that may have led to the system failing the child.  A near death is defined as a child in serious or critical condition as a result of child abuse or neglect as determined by a physician.

Purpose
The primary purpose of Delaware’s CDR program is prevention.

Data
Standardized data reporting forms are completed for all reviews. This is required by state policy. Currently, Delaware CDNDSC is revising policy/data collection. Data is stored on a computer in an Access database. Data is used in writing the annual report, which includes trends and recommendations. The Delaware CDNDSC program has access to state vital statistics. Delaware CDNDSC receives death certificates, fetal death certificates and birth information on all children from Delaware's Vital Statistics.

Annual Report
The last annual report was produced in 2003.  All future annual reports will be done fiscally.  The next report will be a compilation of fiscal year 04 (half, fiscal year 05 and fiscal year 06.  The report is distributed to public officials and interested citizens.  The recommendations from the expedited reviews of abuse/neglect cases are immediately sent to the Governor, General Assembly, CDNDSC and the Child Protection Accountability Commission to satisfy CAPTA requirements. 

Prevention Initiatives
CDR findings have influenced policy changes in Delaware. Examples of these changes include statewide restrictive licensure for new drivers and legislation requiring expedited reviews of deaths related to abuse/neglect. Local community examples include traffic control improvements, reaching out to a local Amish sect and health and safety concerns. Delaware CDNDSC findings motivated prevention activities through a public awareness campaign regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and co-sleeping risk factors.

Protocols
Delaware has a variety of protocols in place including a procedure manual and policies..

Training
Delaware conducted a state-wide training for the Commission and panels in September 2005.  During that same month, a joint training was conducted with the Child Protection Accountability Commission.  It is anticipated that CDNDSC will partner with other state agencies to ensure adequate training on prevention of child deaths.