Reducing Child Fatalities and Recurring Child Injuries Caused by Crime Victimization

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Fatality Review and Prevention Division (FRP) will conduct a two-phase project in three target counties: Clark, Delaware and Grant Counties to examine causes of death due to external injury, including deaths caused by accidental injury, intentional self-harm, intentional assault, and undetermined intention of injury, as well as undetermined causes of death. Clark, Delaware and Grant Counties all had rates of external injury deaths among children that were in the top five counties in the state, and were all higher than the state average rate. Identifying children and families most at-risk of a maltreatment fatality is key to knowing when and how to intervene. Information collected through child fatality reviews is critical to this work to reduce the numbers of child maltreatment injuries and fatalities, and improve services to child maltreatment victims.

CA/NCF