State Spotlight - Missouri

Last updated:  February 2008

Gus Kolilis
Chief
State Technical Assistance Team
PO Box 208
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-5980
Fax: 573-751-1479
Email: Gus.H.Kolilis@dss.mo.gov

Maurine Hill
CFRP Manager
State Technical Assistance Team
PO Box 208
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-522-2633
Fax: 573-751-1479
Email: maurine.r.hill@dss.mo.gov

Website: http://www.dss.mo.gov/stat/mcfrp.htm

Tools
 Reports
Mortality Statistics Program Description

Administration
Missouri’s Child Fatality Review Program was established in 1991 by legislation. Its annual budget is $132,000 which is for E&E and is funded through general revenue, plus additional grants. Missouri also has an additional $623,000 for personal services.  Funding from year to year is somewhat stable, but is subject to Governor’s reserve and budget cuts. The program is housed out of the Social Services. There are 14 full time, state level employees, three part-time state level employees and one local level employee that staff the program. Missouri’s CDR efforts also include the State Technical Assistance Team, which focuses on child abuse, exploitation and fatality investigations.

Teams
Missouri has both state and local teams.

State Team: (Chairperson - Dr. Irene Walsh and Wayne Munkel)
The Team is comprised of 27 members and meets bi-annually. This panel is responsible for providing oversight and making recommendations to the Department of Social Services and the State Technical Assistance Team.

Local Teams:
Missouri requires each of its 114 counties, and the City of St Louis, to have a multidisciplinary Child Fatality Review Panel. There are 115 teams comprised of seven or more team members that meet per reviewable death.

Reviews
The Missouri CDR teams review deaths that occur to children under the age of 18. Missouri offers prevention information, bereavement and SIDS services as well. These services are provided primarily at the community level.

Purpose
The purpose of the Missouri CDR team is prevention, to provide services and investigation by individual agencies. This has always been the focus.

Data
Standardized data reporting forms are completed for all reviews. This is required by state legislation and policy. Missouri CDR has access to State vital statistics and uses this information to link with their data reporting tools. Data is stored in various ways, paper copies are filed, data is entered into an in-house Access database & a department mainframe system. Data is analyzed through Access and department mainframe system queries.

Annual Report
Missouri does produce an annual report. The latest annual report available is for 2006. The report is distributed to a mandatory distribution list which includes government officials and CFRP panel members and anyone requesting copies, as available.  Annual reports are available online, http://www.dss.missouri.gov/re/cfrar.htm.

Prevention Initiatives
CDR findings have influenced policy changes. Statewide and local examples of these changes include: a focus in the areas of child fatalities and serious injury prevention, crimes and punishment, training and investigation. Prevention activities motivated by CDR findings include training on prevention of child fatalities in the area of SIDS, unintentional injuries and fatal child abuse, Fire safety programs, Safe Crib/Safe Sleep programs. Missouri CDR efforts have been evaluated by the University of Missouri Research Program.

Protocols
Missouri CDR has a variety of protocols in place including child death investigation, confidentiality, and the CDR meeting.

Training
Training is provided on a routine basis. Types of training include: supports for the field-level intervention/investigative community to help realistically convert policy into practice. The trainings are funded with Department funds, the Criminal Justice Act and The MIssouri Children’s Trust Fund.