Kern County Public Health on Wednesday presented the Child Death Review Team’s 2024 annual report to the Board of Supervisors, identifying key patterns and recommendations aimed at preventing future child fatalities.

Chad Casto, public health program manager and chair of the county’s Child Death Review Team, told the board the team reviewed 47 child deaths in 2024. The team categorized those deaths as 17 accidental (36%), seven homicides (15%), eight natural (17%), six suicides (13%), and nine undetermined (19%). "The primary goal of this team is to reduce the incidence of childhood fatalities related to abuse, neglect, and other preventable causes," Casto said.

The report identified motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of accidental child deaths in 2024, accounting for 10 of the 17 accidental deaths — a decrease from 2023. Drownings rose sharply: six accidental deaths in 2024 were due to drowning, a 200% increase from the prior year. Suicide deaths among children rose 50% compared with 2023, with hanging the most common method.

The Child Death Review Team highlighted age patterns: infants under 1 year represented 14.9% of reviewed deaths (seven cases) and, for that age group, undetermined manner and unsafe sleep environments remained an issue; the team noted that in five of those infant deaths an unsafe sleep environment was present. The team also reported that, although fentanyl‑related child deaths have been a growing problem over recent years, there were no fentanyl‑related child deaths reported in 2024.

The report lists six prevention recommendations to the board, summarized by Public Health staff as:
- Increase community awareness, education and resources about unsafe infant sleep environments and sudden unexplained infant death.
- Decrease child suicide through awareness, early identification and resources for at‑risk youth.
- Reduce childhood drowning deaths via water‑safety education for pools, the Kern River and other bodies of water.
- Increase awareness of signs of abuse and neglect and promote reporting resources.
- Expand motor vehicle and pedestrian safety education for adolescents.
- Increase public education about the dangers of fentanyl and expand distribution of naloxone (Narcan) and overdose response training.

The report also described county efforts already underway, including Narcan distribution and training by Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and public‑library Naloxone programs. Supervisors asked clarifying questions about the “natural” death category and about whether the county has programs similar to a "drug‑endangered children" response; Public Health said it would follow up with the Child Death Review Team and sheriff’s office to report back.

Supervisor Jeff Flores moved to receive and file the 2024 Child Death Review Team report; Supervisor Ryan Parlier seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to receive and file the report.

Why it matters
The Child Death Review Team report is intended to identify preventable factors and guide county prevention efforts. The trends in drownings and suicide deaths — and continuing concerns about unsafe infant sleep environments — suggest the county should target public education, partner outreach and prevention investments in those areas.