New Mexico - State Spotlight


State Spotlight - New Mexico Last updated: May 2008 Paula M. Bauch Child Fatality Review Coordinator New Mexico Department of Health 1190 St. Francis Drive P.O. Box 26110 Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110 Phone: (505) 925-4329 Fax: (505) 476-7810 Email: paula.bauch@state.nm.us Tools New Mexico Child Fatality Review Legislation Mortality Statistics New Mexico Child Mortality Data, 2002 New Mexico Child Mortality Data, 2003 New Mexico Child Mortality Data, 2005 Program Description Administration The New Mexico Child Fatality Review Program was established in 1998 by legislation. The administration and coordination for the team is a program of the New Mexico Department of Health. Teams New Mexico has a state level review teams, with membership representing various professional disciplines. State Team: The New Mexico Child Fatality Review (NMCFR) is comprised of five panels or teams. These include child abuse and neglect; homicide; suicide; transportation; and other injuries plus SIDS. Each panel is made up of volunteers who meet monthly to review cases and discuss strategies for preventing deaths. From these reviews, recommendations for prevention are made. Legislation requires the team to look at ways to reduce future deaths by identification of risk factors, determine risk reduction and/or system failures and identify such information to policy makers, providers, communities and the public. Reviews The NMCFR reviews all deaths except for disease in children from birth though the ages of 19 – 24, depending on the cause. At this time, premature neonatal deaths are not reviewed. All deaths are identified through the Office of the Medical Investigator. This information is sent to the NMCFR coordinator who collects all case information and notifies the appropriate panel that the case is ready for review. Purpose The purpose of the New Mexico Child Fatality Review is prevention. Data NMCFR is using the Child Death Review Case Reporting System in conjunction with the web-based database developed by the National Center for Child Death Review. Annual Report New Mexico does not have a current annual report. Prevention Initiatives NMCFR findings have influenced policy changes and prevention initiatives. Protocols New Mexico has CFR Meeting protocols in place. Training NMCFR Conference April, 2008, conducted by Teri Covington, Director, National Center for Child Death Review.