The State Child Fatality Review Team was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1999, (Md. Health Gen. Article, §§ 5-702-704. Code Ann. (1999)) and is a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team composed of at least 25 members (or their designees). The law requires State CFR Team membership to include the Attorney General, Chief Medical Examiner, Secretary of the Department of Human Resources, Secretary Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, State Superintendent of Schools, Secretary of Juvenile Services, Secretary of State Police, the president of the State’s Attorneys Association, the chief of the Division of Vital Records of the Department, a representative of the State SIDS Information and Counseling Program, Director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration of the Department, two pediatricians with experience in diagnosing and treating injuries in child abuse and neglect appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 11 members of the general public with an interest and expertise in child safety and welfare who are appointed by the Governor.

The purpose of the Maryland State Child Fatality Team is prevent child deaths by developing an understanding of the causes and incidence of child deaths; developing plans for and implementing changes within the agencies represented on the State CFR team to prevent child deaths, and to advise the Governor, General Assembly, and the public on changes to law, policy, and practice to prevent child death. Maryland law also requires the establishment of local teams composed of multi-agency and multi-disciplinary team members to convene regular meetings to review unexpected child deaths.

Data collected from Vital Statistics, Injury Prevention, Highway Safety and local reviews is used to guide the State CFR Team in making significant and purposeful recommendations to the legislature and to community action groups aimed at preventing child deaths. The State CFR Team is required to submit an annual report to the Governor.
For information about the State Child Fatality Review Team please contact Joan Patterson at the Maryland Department of Health Center for Maternal and Child Health telephone number 410 767 6713 or email JPatterson@dhmh.state.md.us.

State CFR TEAM Membership List

Guidelines for Local CFR Case Review