Q:  What is the Child Protection Team?

A:  This is actually called the Child Fatality Prevention and Protection Team.  By order of the Governor, every North Carolina County must have such a team, representing numerous community agencies, to review every child death in that county to determine the cause and whether there are systemic solutions to prevent child deaths (and by extension severe injury).  Each year the Child Protection Team develops a report and a set of recommendations regarding the causes of child deaths and preventive actions.  The report is provided annually to, among other groups, the Board of County Commissioners.

Q:  Who are the members of the Mecklenburg County Child Protection Team?

A:  The Mecklenburg Child Protection Team includes representatives of the following community agencies:  Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, Mecklenburg County Health Department, Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner, and citizens at large.

Q:  How often does the Child Protection Team meet?

A:  The Team meets each month and also has subcommittees that meet more often to address detail issues and questions.

Q:  What kind of cases does the Child Protection Team review?

A:  The team reviews every instance of a child death in Mecklenburg County (child being anyone younger than 18 years old upon death).