Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 2150.3 - Public Health Child Death Review Program(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish the Public Health Child Death Review Program which shall facilitate State and local multiagency, multidisciplinary teams to examine the circumstances surrounding deaths in this Commonwealth for the purpose of promoting safety and reducing child fatalities.(b) Powers and duties.--The department, in cooperation with the State public health child death review team, shall have the following powers and duties in relation to the program:(1) Assist in the establishment and coordination of local public health child death review teams.(2) Coordinate the collection of child death data, including the development and distribution of a form to be used by local public health child death review teams to report information and procedures for sharing the data with State and local agencies as appropriate.(3) Develop protocols to be used in the review of child deaths. These protocols shall not conflict with requirements set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to child protective services), including, but not limited to, provisions relating to the review of child fatalities and near fatalities.(4) Provide training and technical assistance to local public health child death review teams, local agencies and individuals relating to child deaths.(5) Review reports from local public health child death review teams.(6) Identify best prevention strategies and activities, including an assessment of the following: (ii) Ease of implementation.(v) Potential community support.(vi) Unintended consequences.(7) Adopt programs, policies, recommendations and strategies based on collected data to prevent child deaths.(8) Review statutes and regulations relating to confidentiality and access to information relating to children from agencies responsible for the health and safety of children and propose recommended changes to appropriate Commonwealth agencies and the General Assembly.(9) Provide public information and education regarding the incidence and causes of child injury and death and the reduction of risks to children to agencies, health care professionals, child care professionals and the public.(10) Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly by September of each year relating to the activities of the State child death review team, a summary of reports received from local child death review teams and recommendations relating to the reduction of risk of child injury or death.2008, Oct. 8, P.L. 1073, No. 87, §3, effective in 90 days [ 1/6/2009].