Provincial Child Death Review Committee makes series of recommendations to government following case reviews

The province’s Department of Justice and Public Safety has released a series of recommendations from the Child Death Review Committee (CDRC) stemming from three cases of child and youth deaths that occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2016 and 2017.

The recommendations relate to relevant protocols, policies and procedures; standards and legislation; linkages and coordination of services; and improvements to services affecting children and pregnant women.

In one case where an infant child died of unknown causes while in bed, the CDRC recommended a public health nurse make contact with all mothers within the first 24 hours to again reinforce best infant sleep practices, and that a health care provider, whether it’s a public health nurse or family doctor, reinforce sleep and safety practices throughout the first year of life.

In the two other cases, both of which involved a youth death via suicide, the committee recommended that the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development create continued awareness of how to contact organizations such as Kids Help Phone and the Mental Health Crisis line.

It also recommended that a liaison structure is developed by the department and Memorial University for students with known mental health issues transitioning from secondary to post-secondary schooling.

All three reports have been forwarded to the Child and Youth Advocate.