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Child Fatality Review Team approved for St. Lawrence County

Posted 9/14/18

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON -- St. Lawrence County has approved the creation of a Child Fatality Review Team, which they say is aimed at preventing future deaths of children and promoting child safety. …

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Child Fatality Review Team approved for St. Lawrence County

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON -- St. Lawrence County has approved the creation of a Child Fatality Review Team, which they say is aimed at preventing future deaths of children and promoting child safety.

The team will examine the causes, manner, and circumstances of the deaths of children. The St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators resolution comes at the request of the Child Advocacy Center of Northern New York. The team will collaborate with participants from Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The Child Advocacy Center of Northern New works to minimize the trauma of child abuse by providing support for families affected by sexual assault and physical violence throughout investigations, prosecutions, and treatment.

“The Child Advocacy Center of Northern New York recognizes the need to collaborate with surrounding areas, and that multi-disciplinary teams can be helpful in addressing victim cases and making efforts for joint investigations with Child Protective Services collaborating with law enforcement from the onset of investigations,” the resolution says.

The advocacy group will allow the collaboration of St. Lawrence County, Lewis County, and Jefferson County to share resources and facilitate investigations of child abuse. The group would also aid in providing resources necessary to assist victims.

The Child Fatality Review Team and the Child Advocacy Center of the Northern New York intend to provide the Office of Children and Family Services with letters of commitment from required entities, including the offices of the county attorney, public health director, coroner, district attorney, sheriff, and commissioner of social services, according to the resolution.

The resolution says the review process of the Child Fatality Review Team will require strict rules of confidentiality and participants to sign confidentiality agreements at each meeting.

It is unclear from the resolution when the team would be established.