State Child Fatality Review Team Committee

The Texas Family Code 264.501 created the State Child Fatality Review Team (SCFRT) Committee. The SCFRT Committee is a multi-disciplinary group of experts who work in areas related to child fatality across the state of Texas. The SCFRT Committee must produce a biennial report that is available to the public. The report includes information about child death incidences and causes and provides recommendations to the Texas governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

SCFRT members must attend meetings and may need to take part in subcommittee activities. Committee meetings take place at least four times annually or at the call of the committee chair. Members must travel to Austin for in-person meetings unless the SCFRT Committee meets virtually or offers a hybrid (in-person and virtual) option. SCFRT members may receive reimbursement for travel to and from in-person meetings if funds are available.

Click on the links below to view webcast recordings, agendas, and handouts for past meetings.

ALL RECORDED WEBCASTS

• Current Members (PDF)
• Texas Child Fatality Review Teams (PDF)

Reports, Protocols, and Guidelines

• State Child Fatality Review Team Committee Biennial Report - April 2024

• State Child Fatality Review Team Committee Biennial Report - April 2022 
• Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) Operations Protocol (PDF) (for best results download and open with Adobe Acrobat Reader on your desktop system.)

Membership Opportunity

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) received SCFRT Committee membership applications for the following position:

• A Sheriff

Applications closed January 31, 2025. SCFRT Committee permanent members will vote for this open position at the February SCFRT Committee meeting. The SCFRT Committee permanent members will appoint members to the SCFRT Committee to serve a term of three years. DSHS will notify applicants by March 7, 2025, with the selection results. 

The SCFRT Committee tries to select committee members that represent the diversity of all Texans. For that reason, the committee considers applicants' ethnicity, sex, and geographic location.

The agency does not discriminate against applicants and members of the Department of State Health Services advisory committees on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, or sex.