Local team reviewed 24 child deaths, recommends safe-sleep, partnerships and mental-health outreach

Tara, presenting the local child-fatality review team report, said the team received 20 child deaths for calendar year 2024 and in 2025 reviewed 24 child deaths (including five pending cases from the prior year). She explained the team now uses the National Fatality Review Case Reporting System and that some reviews are mandatory when there are actionable prevention opportunities.

Tara provided a cause breakdown the team used in reviews: birth defects (2), illnesses (5), perinatal conditions (5), suicide (1), homicide (2) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (0). She said mandatory versus nonmandatory reviews and escalation for suspected maltreatment were changes from prior practice and that the multidisciplinary team includes partners from the sheriff’s office, the courts and DSS.

Recommendations from local reviews included continuing and increasing safe-sleep education for new parents, strengthening community partnerships and increasing awareness of suicide and mental-health supports. Tara said the local team met four times during the year and noted improved team participation compared with prior years, from a small core to consistent attendance from many agencies. She also described outreach already under way, including a suicide-prevention billboard campaign highlighting the 988 lifeline and partnerships with local hospitals to provide safe-sleep information at discharge.

Commissioners asked several clarifying questions about age ranges and causes; Tara confirmed the local team reviews deaths of county residents up to their 18th birthday even if the death occurred outside Randolph County. The board did not take additional formal action at the meeting; the report was presented for information and questions.