Public Advisory: Child Death Review Committee Case Review

  • Justice and Public Safety

June 22, 2018

Under section 13.5 of the Fatalities Investigations Act, the Minister of Justice and Public Safety is required, within 60 days after receiving a report from the Child Death Review Committee (CDRC), to make public those recommendations relating to:

  • Relevant protocols, policies and procedures;
  • Standards and legislation;
  • Linkages and coordination of services; and
  • Improvements to services affecting children and pregnant women.

The CDRC forwarded three reports to the Minister of Justice and Public Safety on April 26, 2018 that included recommendations. The reports examine the facts and circumstances surrounding deaths of children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador that occurred in 2016 and 2017.

Case 1:

A child died of unknown causes while in bed.

Recommendations:

  1. Sleep & Safety Practices be consistently reinforced throughout the first year of life by health care providers including public health nurses and family doctors; and
  2. A Public Health Nurse is required to make phone contact with all mothers within the first 24 hours. The mother can choose not to have the nurse visit but teaching at this time could still be reinforced regarding best infant sleep practice.

Case 2:

A youth died by suicide.

Recommendations:

  1. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development create continued awareness of emergency contact numbers to be made available to youth – ex: Kids Help Phone, Mental Health Crisis Line; and
  2. Liaison structure be developed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Memorial University to transition students with known mental health issues from secondary to post-secondary.

Case 3:

A youth died by suicide.

Recommendations:

  1. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development create continued awareness of emergency contact numbers to be made available to youth – ex: Kids Help Phone, Mental Health Crisis Line; and
  2. Liaison structure be developed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Memorial University to transition students with known mental health issues from secondary to post-secondary.

These reports have been forwarded to the Child and Youth Advocate.

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Media contact
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

2018 06 22 11:45 am