Injury Prevention & Death Review
About Our Injury Prevention & Death Review Initiative
There is no greater tragedy than the death of a child. Each year, more than half of deaths among children 1-17 years of age are from unintentional injuries, self-harm and homicides. Additionally, nearly 1 in 10 infant deaths are sudden and unexpected.
In 2005, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services identified the need to build a comprehensive death review system and worked in partnership with the Alliance to create Keeping Kids Alive (KKA) in Wisconsin.
The injury prevention and death review initiative is funded in part by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Title V Maternal Child Health grant.
On average, 1 sudden, unexpected infant death occurs each week in Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, injuries result in nearly 80 ED visits for every 1,000 children under age 18 annually.
There are 50+ local child death review teams in Wisconsin.
What We Do
The Alliance provides technical assistance and training, develops resources, mobilizes local teams, and leads statewide efforts in partnership with state and local agencies to reduce injuries and deaths.
Keeping Kids Alive in Wisconsin
Keeping Kids Alive in Wisconsin (KKA) is a comprehensive, statewide death review and surveillance system. KKA includes child death review (CDR), fetal infant mortality review (FIMR), Sleep Baby Safe and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and Sudden Death in the Young (SDY) case registry project.
Child Death Review & Fetal Infant Mortality Review
Child death review (CDR) teams primarily review deaths of infants and children, ages 0 to 18, which are reportable to the medical examiner or coroner. The purpose of CDR is to better understand the risk factors and circumstances surrounding a child’s death and to develop policy and program recommendations to prevent future deaths.
Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) teams FIMR teams review stillbirths and infant deaths to gain a greater understanding of risk factors. These teams seek to improve birth outcomes and reduce disparities related to prematurity and stillbirth. Mothers who have experienced a loss are offered maternal interviews to share their lived experiences.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Case Registry
A SUID is defined as the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than one year old, that does not seem to have a specific cause before investigation. The SUID Case Registry allows Wisconsin to perform SUID surveillance by having local teams review the cases that occur in their counties and enter their data.
Sleep Baby Safe
Sleep Baby Safe provides evidence-based safe sleep trainings and resources for professionals working with families. Sleep Baby Safe resources are intended to enhance local efforts to promote a consistent, clear and concise message on infant safe sleep.
Prevention Resources
Explore national, statewide and local resources to assist with implementation of prevention recommendation strategies.
Contact Our Staff
Karen Nash, MBA
Program Leader
(414) 337-4567
knash@childrenswi.org
Catheryn Morateck, MPH
Epidemiologist
(414) 337-4568
cmorateck@childrenswi.org
Amy L. Cline, MSW, APSW
Program Manager
(414) 337-4565
acline@childrenswi.org
Joanna O’Donnell, GC-C
Program Manager
(414) 337-4571
jodonnell@childrenswi.org
Injury Prevention News
Plan your year with Keeping Kids Alive: Training opportunities for 2025
The Keeping Kids Alive in Wisconsin team is excited to announce a dynamic year of training opportunities designed to support professionals in child death review (CDR), fetal and infant [...]
Highlights from the 2024 Injury Free Coalition for Kids Conference
Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin’s (the Alliance) injury prevention and death review initiative had the opportunity to attend and present at the 2024 Injury Free Coalition for Kids Conference [...]
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Keeping Kids Alive Connection: News for Your Review
Connection to a wide range of resources providing guidance and support, to ensure teams can conduct effective review meetings.
