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Child fatality prevention team reports three deaths, outlines state changes and local needs
Summary
Carteret County's child fatality prevention team presented its annual report: three reviewed deaths in the covered period were categorized as not preventable, and the team described upcoming state program changes and persistent gaps in behavioral health referral options.
The Carteret County Child Fatality Prevention Team on Jan. 13 presented its annual written report and reviewed three child deaths from the prior year, all of which local reviewers deemed not preventable.
Dr. Randall Williams and Gail Calhoun summarized the team’s work and noted statewide changes to the program. "We had 3 from January 2024 to December 2024," Calhoun said, explaining the local review covers deaths that occurred in the prior year to ensure all evidence is available. The team now plans to meet quarterly and will narrow review criteria to cases where review is more likely to suggest prevention actions — for example, undetermined causes, motor vehicle crashes and shootings — rather than congenital defects or known terminal illnesses.
Calhoun and Williams told commissioners that the team is multidisciplinary, involving social services, health, law enforcement and behavioral‑health partners. They said many of the team’s recommendations repeatedly point to a lack of local referral options for inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services. Williams said an upcoming on‑site inspection by state partners could address roughly 90% of the team’s recommendations by increasing local behavioral‑health capacity.
Commissioners asked whether the board would continue to appoint five members to the team. Staff clarified that state changes shift the selection of certain ad hoc members to the team itself rather than to the board; those appointment details will now be handled at the team level. Commissioners raised a desire to continue supporting public‑awareness campaigns such as car‑seat and safe‑sleep messaging that the team has previously helped bring to the state level.
The report will be filed with the minutes and the team will continue quarterly meetings under the revised state guidance.
