In an effort to combat the rising number of child fatalities in Fort Bend County, representatives from more than 18 agencies in Fort Bend County gathered recently at Child Advocates of Fort Bend to attend the first meeting of the Child Fatality Review Team.
Led by Assistant District Attorney Oshea Spencer, the Child Fatality Review team reviewed eight child fatalities that occurred in 2007 and will continue to review all child deaths in the county in the hope of identifying ways to prevent future fatalities.
Team members contribute detailed information concerning child death cases that come under the charge of their agencies and quarterly meetings will be held to review the deaths. The team will report its findings to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Data gathered will be used to target prevention strategies and educational initiatives and to contribute to national data on child deaths.
Agencies that sent representatives to the recent meeting included Fort Bend County Health and Human Services, Arcola Police Department, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Fort Bend County Attorney’s Office, Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Fort Bend Emergency Medical Services, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fulshear Police Department, Harris County Child Fatality Review Team, Katy ISD Police Department, Meadows Place Police Department, Missouri City Police Department, Rosenberg Police Department, Sugar Land Police Department, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation, Fort Bend County Adult Probation, Dr. Stephen Pustilnik (Chief Medical Examiner- Galveston County) and Justice of the Peace Gary Geick’s office.
