Child Death Review (CDR) is a prevention-oriented process that reviews the circumstances surrounding the death of a child to improve the health and safety of the community. This page contains key materials for understanding CDR principles, models, confidentiality, roles of team members and provides guidance on conducting effective review meetings.
I. The Operating Principles of Child Death Review
A child’s death is a community tragedy and responsibility does not rest in any one place. The death of a child is a sentinel event that should catalyze action. Fatality review teams are diverse, multidisciplinary groups of professionals who come together to understand the complex, multifaceted factors surrounding the death of a child. In short, CDR teams seek to understand the “how” and “why” surrounding the death to prevent future deaths.
The objectives of the CDR process are broad and will meet the needs of many different agencies, ranging from the investigation of deaths to their prevention. Learn more about the 10 primary CDR objectives.
II. CDR models
Child death review programs typically will fit one of four different models. The models vary by what core functions they perform, by whether reviews are conducted at the state or local level, by the types of deaths they review, and by where team authority lies.
III. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important issue when discussing the implementation or continuing work of a Child Death Review (CDR) team. Sensitive information is the currency of CDR teams. They collect sensitive information from their members and others, and they compile sensitive information through their activities. Review team members are not the only ones interested in the information. Child deaths are often in the public eye and may be controversial. The public and the press may want to know what the team knows. Learn more about the team’s access to information, the public’s access to information, a four-part approach to confidentiality, and other confidentiality measures teams can implement.
Confidentiality Statement (Word)) (PDF)
IV. Roles of team members
Core members of CDR teams are responsible for responding to child deaths or for protecting children’s health or safety. A CDR team should always have representatives from law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutor/district attorney, medical examiner/coroner, pediatrician or other health provider, public health, and emergency medical services. Additional and ad hoc members from other agencies, providers and professions involved in protecting children’s safety and health should be considered for CDR team membership and certainly provisions should be made for their inclusion on a case appropriate basis. Periodically, CDR teams may consider inviting individuals with expertise to participate in a specific review or to brief the team members about their expertise.
All team members should contribute information from their records, explain agency best-practices and professional obligations, identify potential prevention opportunities and maintain confidentiality agreements.
Roles of team members (Word)
V. Conducting effective meetings
There are different approaches used by teams around the country to conduct death reviews. But there are certain basic steps that if followed, will help lead to complete and thorough reviews that address the maximum number of issues involved in children’s deaths while focusing the team on prevention. Learn more about the six steps for effective reviews.
Conducting Effective Meetings (Word)
A Program Manual for Child Death Review which was prepared by The National Center serves as a primary tool for state and local CDR teams.