The Michigan Child Death Review (CDR) program, housed within MPHI’s Center for Child and Family Health (CCFH), is commemorating its 30-year anniversary. The death of a child is a profound loss that impacts not only the child’s parents, family and friends, but also the larger community. To reduce the number of these losses, CDR seeks to first understand how and why children are dying. CDR is a collaborative process that brings together local professionals from a variety of disciplines who volunteer their time to share and discuss comprehensive information on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of children.

Michigan CDR began in 1995 after Children’s Protective Services (CPS) passed record access legislation and The Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect used appropriations from the Children’s Justice Act to hire the first Michigan CDR project coordinator. The project began with 17 pilot CDR county teams. Now, the program supports 77 local CDR teams covering all 83 Michigan counties, and more than 1,400 human service professionals participate across the state, reviewing an average of 500 child deaths per year.

Michigan CDR’s main functions are to:

  • Assist local CDR teams with case identification and provide guidance on team functioning.
  • Support the functioning of the Child Death State Advisory Team.
  • Provide training to: local CDR team members on the review process; child welfare professionals on infant safe sleep; and investigators on conducting child death scene operations, as well as other topics related to child health, safety, and protection.
  • Develop program support materials, including resource guides for effective reviews, investigative protocols, and the Michigan CDR website.
  • Compile information and resources on specific causes of death and promising prevention initiatives.
  • Maintain Michigan’s CDR program data, including providing guidance on how to access necessary records, ensuring data is complete and accurate, and analyzing county- and cause of death-specific data.
  • Represent the Michigan CDR program at local, state, and national levels.
  • Provide other types of technical assistance and support, as needed.

Michigan CDR recognizes the thousands of local CDR team members who have volunteered their time to the review process over the years. Their efforts have helped to bring meaning to tragic losses and have honored the memories of the children who died by improving the health and safety of children throughout Michigan.

For more information, visit:
Michigan CDR 30th Anniversary – Michigan Fatality Review and Prevention