Creating Critical Incident Review Team

Senate Bill 212 creates a Critical Incident Review Team within West Virginia's Department of Human Services to review deaths and near-deaths of children in specific cases, including those in state custody, known cases with the department (within the past year), or reported through centralized intake. The team, composed of department officials and a court representative, will analyze trends, establish review protocols, and submit annual reports to the legislature with recommendations to reduce such incidents. State agencies must provide necessary records (like medical or social services data) for reviews while maintaining strict confidentiality of all team proceedings and records. This process directly affects how the state handles child welfare fatalities, aiming to improve safety through systematic analysis rather than changing direct services for families.