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Martin County child-protection teams report rise in custody cases and review child fatalities
Summary
The Child Fatality Prevention Team and Community Child Protection Team reported seven reviewed child fatalities from 2019 and a rise in custody cases from 11 children (2019) to 23 (2020). DSS received 261 CPS reports in 2020 and had 46 children in foster care in December.
Representatives from the local Child Fatality Prevention Team and the Community Child Protection Team updated the Martin County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 about their 2020 activities and case reviews.
Vickey Manning of the MTW District Health Department summarized the role of the local Child Fatality Prevention Team (CFPT), saying local teams review child deaths that are not subject to active child-protective investigations and help identify prevention actions. Manning said the CFPT reviewed seven child fatalities (from 2019) during 2020; four were tied to significant birth defects or perinatal conditions, one was an accidental drowning, one involved substantial prenatal substance use and limited prenatal care, and one death resulted from a head injury determined to be caused by other than accidental means.
Nancy Conner of Martin County DSS, chair of the Community Child Protection Team (CCPT), reported the CCPT met eight times in 2020 and reviewed eight cases. Conner said Martin County DSS assumed custody of 11 children in 2019 and 23 children in 2020 — an increase of about 50 percent — and that, as of December 2020, 46 children were in foster care. She said contributing factors discussed by the CCPT included domestic violence, substance abuse and mental-health issues.
Conner provided additional permanency data: in 2020 DSS established permanence for 14 children (five adoptions, two guardianships/custody with family members, four permanency placements with foster parents, and three returns to a non-removal parent). She added DSS received 261 Child Protective Services reports in 2020, of which 151 were screened and investigated.
Both presenters emphasized prevention activities and community outreach that continued in modified form during the pandemic, including virtual meetings and partnerships with Safe Kids Riverbend Coalition on safe-sleep messaging. No board action was taken.
