(B) TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSE, THE STATE TEAM SHALL:
(1) UNDERTAKE ANNUAL STATISTICAL STUDIES OF THE INCIDENCE
AND CAUSES OF CHILD FATALITIES IN THE STATE, INCLUDING AN ANALYSIS OF
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
DECEDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES BEFORE AND AFTER THE DEATHS;
(2) REVIEW REPORTS FROM LOCAL TEAMS;
(3) PROVIDE TRAINING AND WRITTEN MATERIALS TO THE LOCAL TEAMS
ESTABLISHED UNDER § 5-705 OF THIS SUBTITLE TO ASSIST THEM IN CARRYING OUT
THEIR DUTIES, INCLUDING MODEL PROTOCOLS FOR THE OPERATION OF LOCAL
TEAMS;
(4) IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL TEAMS. DEVELOP A PROTOCOL FOR
CHILD FATALITY INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING PROCEDURES FOR LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, LOCAL MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND
LOCAL DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES, USING BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER
STATES AND JURISDICTIONS;
(5) DEVELOP A PROTOCOL FOR THE COLLECTION OF DATA REGARDING
CHILD DEATHS AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO LOCAL TEAMS AND COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS ON THE USE OF THE PROTOCOL;
(6) UNDERTAKE A STUDY OF THE OPERATIONS OF LOCAL TEAMS,
INCLUDING THE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES OF THE
AGENCIES REPRESENTED ON THE LOCAL TEAMS, RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE
CHANGES TO ANY REGULATION OR POLICY NEEDED TO PREVENT CHILD DEATHS,
AND INCLUDE PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO STATE OR LOCAL LAWS IN THE ANNUAL
REPORT REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (12) OF THIS SUBSECTION;
(7) CONSIDER LOCAL AND STATEWIDE TRAINING NEEDS, INCLUDING
CROSS-AGENCY TRAINING AND SERVICE GAPS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
MEMBER AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER THESE TRAINING NEEDS;
(8) EXAMINE CONFIDENTIALITY AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION LAWS,
REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES FOR AGENCIES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
CHILDREN, INCLUDING HEALTH, PUBLIC WELFARE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES,
MENTAL HEALTH, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE
CHANGES TO ANY REGULATIONS AND POLICIES THAT IMPEDE THE EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION NECESSARY TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM PREVENTABLE DEATHS,
AND INCLUDE PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO STATUTES IN THE ANNUAL REPORT
REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (12) OF THIS SUBSECTION;
(9) EXAMINE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF STATE AND LOCAL
AGENCIES AND SPECIFIC CASES THAT THE STATE TEAM CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO
PERFORM ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS SECTION, IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE EXTENT
TO WHICH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES ARE EFFECTIVELY DISCHARGING THEIR
CHILD PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH:
(I) THE STATE PLAN UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 5106A(B);
|