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Home My WebLink AboutPR 24377: TO ALLOW THE POLICE DEPT. TO APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM City.of ort rthu�^ Texas www.PortArthurTx.gov INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM Date: June 5, 2025 To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Through: Ronald Burton, City Manager, CPM / /, l(Q From: Timothy W. Duriso, Chief of Police' �' 7 RE: PR 24377—Resolution authorizing the City Manager to allow the Police Department to appoint representatives to the Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team. Introduction: The Port Arthur Police Department is seeking City Council approval to continue its participation in the Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team, a multi-agency coalition tasked with reviewing child deaths in Jefferson County for the purpose of identifying risk factors, improving interagency collaboration, and recommending effective prevention strategies. This effort aligns with the City's ongoing commitment to child welfare and public safety. Background: The Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team has been in operation since 1996 and is currently coordinated by Janet Morris,through the Garth House, Mickey Mehaffy Children's Advocacy Center. Each year, the team reviews between 30 and 50 child deaths, collaborating with local law enforcement, public health agencies, social service providers, and medical examiners to better understand the causes and circumstances surrounding child fatalities. The Port Arthur Police Department has historically contributed critical case information to the team's efforts,including: • Criminal history checks • Scene investigation summaries "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 City of ort rthu� Texas www.PortArthurTx.gov • Ongoing case status reports Participation has helped strengthen regional collaboration and has contributed to the identification of local trends and prevention strategies. Due to recent updates issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team, all participating agencies must now submit an updated Membership Agreement Form before receiving access to confidential death certificate data. Additionally, agency representatives must be confirmed and assigned for continued participation. Budget Impact: There is no budget impact associated with this agreement. Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to allow the Police Department to appoint representatives to the Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team. "Remember,we are here to serve the Citizens of Port Arthur" P.O.Box 1089 X Port Arthur,Texas 77641-1089 X 409.983.8101 X FAX 409.982.6743 P.R. No. 24377 6/5/25 JLH RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOW THE PORT ARTHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO APPOINT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CHILD FATALITY REVIEW TEAM WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team was established in 1996 and continues to function under the coordination of the Garth House, Mickey Mehaffy Children' s Advocacy Center; and WHEREAS, this multidisciplinary team reviews child fatalities in Jefferson County to improve child safety and prevent future deaths by identifying risk factors and developing prevention strategies; and WHEREAS, the Port Arthur Police Department has historically contributed critical investigative and criminal history information and remains a key partner in this collaborative effort; and WHEREAS, updated membership documentation is required by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas State Child Fatality Review Team for continued participation; and WHEREAS, regular participation by a representative of the Port Arthur Police Department is necessary to fulfill the team' s mission. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2 . That the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to allow the Police Department to appoint representatives to the Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team as delineated in Exhibit "A" . Section 3 . That the City Council further authorizes the City Manager to execute the Texas Child Fatality Review Team Member Agreement, in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit "A" . P.R. No. 24377 6/5/25 JLH Section 3 . A copy of this Resolution' s caption shall be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council . READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this day of June, A.D. , 2025, at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers : NOES: Thurman Bill Bartie Mayor ATTEST: Sherri Bellard, TRMC City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Roxann Pais Cotroneo, City Attorney APPROVED MINISTRATION: Ronald Burto , PM T. othy W. Duriso City Man r C ief of Police P.R. No. 24377 6/5/25 JLH EXHIBIT "A" Jefferson Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) Overview and Information Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) Purpose: To Conduct a Multidisciplinary Review of child deaths ranging from premature births through age 17. Gather and Discuss Information and details of the child's life, the circumstances leading up to the death, and events at the time of death. Determine if the death was preventable. Identify Trends or Common Threads in Jefferson County. Provide Recommendations and Initiate Prevention Measures — Changes in State Laws, Programs, or Public Events, Education & Trainings. Submit Recommendations to the State CFRT, Legislators, and State Health Department. Jefferson County Team consists of the following disciplines: Texas Family Code Section 264.509 Law Enforcement • Scene Investigation Details • Criminal History of Family Members or Suspects Justice of the Peace Provides: • Death Certificate • Scene Details • Other information regarding family, etc. Fire Department/EMS • EMS Runs • Details on scene, including all persons DFPS Provides: • Investigation Summary and Case Status • Family Dynamics, Substance Abuse, Previous Abuse Reports • Other Children in home, Alleged Perpetrator and Dispositions District Attorney/Prosecutor Provides: • Case Status for Deaths • Previous Criminal Prosecution; Juvenile Court Cases • Explanation of when a case can or cannot be prosecuted • Legal Terminology, Concepts, and Practices Pediatrician • Services Provided to Child or Family • General Health Issues: Child Development, Injuries & Death, Medical Terminology, Concepts & Practices Hospital Staff • Emergency Department Medical Records • Inpatient/Outpatient Records Regarding Child's Condition & Treatment • Medical Information related to Emergency Procedures Performed Juvenile Probation • Probation Information & Records Others: Child Health Professional, Child Advocate, Child Abuse Prevention Specialist. When does the Team Meet: Garth House Staff facilitates the Jefferson County CFRT Team Meeting which is held 3-4 times a year depending on how many child death certificates are received. Meetings are usually scheduled on a Tuesday at 12:00 pm. Lunch is provided. Depending on the number of deaths to review, the meeting will last 1 — 1 .5 hrs. Types of Meetings: • Full Review — Review of Accident and Injury deaths including homicide, suicide, drownings, fires, vehicle accidents, undetermined cause of death, sudden unexplained infant death (SUID), abusive head trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome) All team members attend. • Expedited Review — Review of Natural Deaths including premature babies, childhood disease or other medical conditions. Medical Personnel attend (doctors, nurses, hospital & emergency room staff, DFPS) are required to attend, but any other member may be there if they have information. Process: • Prior to Meeting, Members are emailed a list of deaths to be reviewed including child name, DOB, DOD, parents information, manner of death, cause of death, place of death, and any other information received from the State Health Department. • Members will use this list to search records and bring any information found to share at the meeting. • Members that are unable to attend a meeting are asked to forward their case information to Garth House before the meeting is held. • All documents received from Team Members will be shredded after information is input into a National Database. National CFRT Database is used to document all information gathered during the review. Garth House Staff will input the information shared at the meeting into this database. The information is used to compile the State and National death statistics and is required. Any known detailed information surrounding the death of a child, the place/area, circumstance, family dynamics, home environment, etc. that is collected will help in the review and gathering statistics. If you have any other questions regarding Jefferson County Child Fatality Review Team, Meetings, Case Information, etc. please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you so much for being an important part of this team and for your commitment to Community Awareness and Reducing Child Deaths! Janet Morris, Garth House Jefferson County CFRT Presiding Officer Email: jmorris(a�garthhouse.orq Phone: 409-838-9084 Cell: 409-790-3159 Texas Child Fatality Review Team Member Agreement It is agreed that team members must sign the Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) Member Agreement: • When forming a new local CFRT. • When joining a local CFRT. • Prior to participating in a child fatality review meeting. Team members may sign the Member Agreement physically or electronically. Team leaders must keep a copy of the Member Agreement and email a copy to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) state injury prevention coordinator. Agreements: Members agree they will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to understand preventable child deaths and develop recommendations for intervention and prevention strategies. Members agree the local CFRT objectives are to: • Promote cooperation, communication, and coordination among organizations involved in responding to child fatalities. • Assure the accurate reporting of child fatalities by age, location, cause, manner, and circumstance • Support child death investigation and certification. • Implement investigative guidelines and child fatality recommendations. • Improve recognition of child fatalities from abuse and neglect, genetic diseases, inadequate medical care, and public health dangers through analysis of patterns and trends. • Enhance the general awareness and understanding of how and why children die. • Identify system-based barriers to child health and safety that, when removed, will ultimately reduce preventable child fatality numbers • Initiate local prevention efforts to reduce preventable child fatality numbers as indicated by child fatality review findings. 1 Members agree the local CFRT membership may be comprised of, but not limited to, the following professionals: • Criminal Prosecutor • Sheriff • Medical Examiner • Justice of the Peace • Police Chief • Pediatrician • Child Educator • Child Mental Health Provider • Public health professional • A Child Protective Services Specialist • A Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Service Provider • Neonatologist • Child advocate • Juvenile probation officer • Child Abuse Prevention Specialist Members agree the child fatality review process requires review of individual child deaths and confidentiality is inherent in the involved reports, measures will be taken to protect confidentiality. All local CFRT members will sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting any unauthorized dissemination of information beyond the purpose of the CFRT. See the Child Fatality Review Team Operations Protoco for more information. Members agree data will be submitted by the local CFRT to the National Fatality Review Case Reporting System where it will be maintained for the purpose of establishing state reports with standardized, non-identified, aggregate data from local CFRTs throughout Texas. 2 Name of Child Fatality Review Team: Jefferson County CFRT The following members make this agreement: Member Name: Member Organization: Ronald Burton, CPM City of Port Arthur Signature Date Timothy W. Duriso Port Arthur Police Department Signature Date Designated Representative: Port Arthur Police Department Printed Name Signature Date 3