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State Spotlight - Wyoming
 Last updated: February 2008
Debra Hibbard
Major Injury Fatality Review Team
DFS Programs and Policy
130 Hobbs Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82009
Email: dhibba@state.wy.us
Website: http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/CMI/cmi.html
Tools
Reports
Mortality Statistics
Program Description
Administration
The Wyoming Child Major Injury/Fatality Review Team was established by
the Department of Family Services in December 1997, under the authority
provided in the Child Protective Services Act, W.S. 14-3-201 through
14-3-215. The program is funded through the Children's Justice Act.
Teams
State and local level teams are mandatory. Cases are first
reviewed by a local team and then a report is sent to the state team.
State Team
Chairperson: Dr. Valerie Bell
Reviews
In March 1999, the team was expanded to include review of major
injuries. Major injuries and fatalities are reviewed if the
Department of Family Services had custody of the child. Wyoming
has an exclusive focus on maltreatment cases. Currently, there is proposed
legislation to expand the review process to include all child deaths
and major injuries, not just abuse and neglect.
Purpose
The purpose of the Wyoming Child Major Injury/Fatality Review Team is
to prevent deaths, identify abuse and neglect death and injuries,
evaluate and improve agency function and identify trends and patterns.
Data
Data collected during the review process comes from police reports,
coroner's reports, medical reports, DFS investigative reports and
others. As of 2007, Wyoming is utilizing the web-based CDR Case Reporting System
through the National Center for Child Death Review.
Annual Report
An annual report is submitted to the Department of Family Services.
Prevention Initiatives
A bill was introduced in the 2002 Legislative
Session to consider shaking a baby to death, a first-degree murder.
This bill would have given judges the option to punish the crime more
severely.
Protocols
Wyoming has team meeting protocols in place.
Training
Unknown.
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