The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force (CFTF) is a legislative study commission that examines data surrounding child deaths, strategies to prevent child deaths, and makes recommendations to the governor, the General Assembly, and other state leaders to prevent child death, prevent abuse and neglect, and support the well-being of children.

The CFTF is part of the broader NC Child Fatality Prevention System (CFP System) which was created by state statute in 1991 and recently modified by 2023 legislation, most of which became effective July 1, 2025. This system has four components including: child death review teams in all 100 counties (called “Local Teams”); a State Office of Child Fatality Prevention (“State Office”) located in the NC Division of Public Health that supports and trains Local Teams and manages and reports data surrounding child death reviews; Medical Examiner Child Fatality Staff in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; and the Child Fatality Task Force. More information about the system and its four components can be found here on the CFTF website.

The CFTF has 36 members that include state agency leaders, ten state legislators, community leaders, and experts in child health & safety. The Task Force studies prevention strategies and data surrounding child deaths and child well-being from a variety of experts and leaders. It also receives reports from the State Office of Child Fatality Prevention containing aggregate information from Local Team reviews of child deaths and on other matters related to child deaths, and it advises the State Office on the operation of an effective statewide child fatality prevention system. (Note: interaction with the State Office is a new aspect of CFTF work, as the State Office became operational July 1, 2025).

The CFTF is required to submit an annual report to the governor, the General Assembly, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and leaders of several legislative committees. The report addresses data surrounding child deaths, Task Force activities, the functioning of the statewide Child Fatality Prevention System, and recommendations for changes in law and policy or the implementation of evidence-driven prevention strategies to promote the safety and well-being of children.

Leadership and Committees: The CFTF is chaired by one or two members elected by the CFTF. There are three Task Force committees: Perinatal Health (focused on healthy pregnancies, birth outcomes, and infants), Intentional Death Prevention (focused on homicide, suicide, abuse and neglect), and Unintentional Death Prevention (focused on motor vehicle accidents, fires, drowning, poisoning, etc.). The committees are co-chaired by one member of the CFTF plus one additional volunteer with issue expertise. The Task Force also has a full-time Executive Director located in the Department of Health and Human Services. Each committee consists of 12 – 14 Task Force members as well as volunteers who represent areas of expertise relevant to the committee’s area of study. Committees bring issues and recommendations for consideration to the full Task Force, and the full Task Force determines final recommendations.

Study process and meetings: Task Force meetings and committee meetings occur during a four to seven-month “study cycle” between legislative sessions, with 2-3 meetings for each committee and 3-4 meetings for the full CFTF. There are dozens of presentations per study cycle by experts and leaders representing state, local, and national agencies, academic institutions, as well as state and community programs. Beginning in 2025, there are also presentations from the new State Office of Child Fatality Prevention. These presentations form the basis for the development of evidence-driven recommendations.

Recommendations developed and approved by the CFTF make up its annual “Action Agenda” that is included in its annual report and widely shared beyond the report. Agenda items may recommend changes to laws or policies, state funding of projects or programs, or encourage other prevention initiatives. Since its creation in 1991, the Task Force has been instrumental in advancing legislation and initiatives that save children’s lives and promote their safety and well-being. A summary of Task Force accomplishments is located here on this website.