Dare County establishes single'county local fatality team and appoints two members

Dare County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to operate a single'county local fatality team under new state guidance and to appoint two community members to the panel.

The county public health and social'services functions have historically operated two review teams; new state legislation consolidated those teams into a single local team. "We will begin the local team, local fatality team, in July," the county Health and Human Services presenter told commissioners.

Health and Human Services staff recommended Dare County continue as a single'county team rather than join a multi'county arrangement because the county reviews a relatively small number of child fatalities and is not part of a regional health department, they said.

The board appointed Captain Steven Burrett (emergency medical services/firefighter) and Beth Story (parent who lost a child before age 18) to the local team, as required by the new structure. The presenter also asked the board to approve the 2024 combined Child Fatality Prevention Team/Community Child Protection Team report as part of the consent agenda.

Commissioner comment and staff discussion noted the consolidated local team will submit reviewed case data to the new national database the state is implementing to allow comparisons across states.

Motion and vote: The vice chairman moved to establish a single'county team and to appoint Captain Steven Burrett and Beth Story; a commissioner seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

The county will implement the local team on July 1, in line with the statutory timetable and state guidance.