Burke County reviews 19 child fatalities in 2024, urges focus on prenatal care and suicide prevention

Dr. Ashley Jarrett, interim health director, presented the local Child Fatality Prevention Team’s 2025 annual report to the Burke County Board of Commissioners on June 1, saying the review covered child deaths that occurred in 2024 and identified two priorities for the coming year: improving prenatal care and expanding suicide‑awareness education.

The report, which commissioners received in their packet, said the team reviewed 19 child fatalities in 2024: seven attributable to birth defects, four to accidents, two to illness, one to sudden infant death syndrome, two homicides, two suicides and one of unknown cause. "This work is really hard...we take it very personally," Jarrett said, summarizing the team’s aim to learn from each case and to recommend practical prevention measures.

Commissioner Brian Barrier thanked the team and stressed cross‑sector action, citing schools, health care providers, law enforcement, social services and community groups as necessary partners. Barrier said the team has promoted community education events, gun‑safe distribution and safety programs but expressed concern that a recent awareness evening drew few attendees despite broad outreach: "We advertised it everywhere...and we had very few people show up in the community," he said.

Jarrett described the team’s next steps as concentrated on two areas: education on the importance of prenatal care and genetic testing, and expanded suicide‑awareness training for parents and community members. The commissioners took no formal vote on new policy at the meeting; the report was left on the consent agenda for follow‑up at the June 15 meeting.

The report and supporting materials are included in the board packet; commissioners said they will continue to consider how to increase community participation in prevention programs and outreach.