2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Improving Interagency Processes within the Idaho Child Fatality Review Taskforce

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Kirk Ketelsen

Abstract

The Idaho Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT), established in 2013 under Executive Order No. 2012-03, brings together multidisciplinary experts to review deaths of children under age eighteen across Idaho. The team identifies recurring risk factors and informs strategies to prevent future fatalities. While CFRT is unique to Idaho, similar review teams operate nationwide as part of broader child safety efforts. The primary project goal was to examine child fatality patterns and conduct trend and geographic analyses using CFRT data. Qualitative case data were converted into a quantitative dataset, with risk factors coded as dichotomous variables. However, early assessment revealed substantial limitations, including inconsistent variables across years, fragmented documentation, and a lack of clearly defined data collection and reporting methodology. Without standardized procedures, data entry and variable definitions varied across cases and over time, limiting consistency and compromising analytic validity. These challenges prompted a shift from statistical analysis to improving data collection processes. In response, a standardized data framework was developed, including cause-specific spreadsheets, consolidated risk factor categories, expanded variable types, and a comprehensive data dictionary. These enhancements aim to improve data collection, support more reliable analyses, and strengthen CFRT’s capacity to inform prevention strategies statewide.

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