This chart outlines the process and timelines arising from the 2006 Joint Directive between the OCC and MCCSS for Child Death Reporting and Review.

Joint Directive Flow Chart – Office of the Chief Coroner and Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (formerly, Ministry of Children and Youth Services), pertaining to Ontario Children’s Aid Societies 

The timelines as outlined have not been updated since the revision to the Joint Directive in 2006. While the OCC and CYDRA strive to meet the timelines for review decisions as outlined, there are a number of circumstances that impact and often delay this ability. For example, ongoing coroner’s investigations, police investigations, criminal proceedings. Most often, a decision cannot be made and a death cannot be moved forward for a child and youth death review process until these investigations and proceedings have concluded.

Joint Directive Flow Chart: description is below

Flow chart description:

Death of a child

  • Immediately
    • Serious Occurrence Report
  • 14 days after death
    • Child Fatality Case Summary Report
  • 21 days after death
    • CYDRA: Advises if Internal Review necessary

Is an internal review necessary?

  • Yes
    • CAS has 150 days to complete internal review and provide to CYDRA
    • CYDRA will advise if further review is required
  • No
    • No further action

Society Internal Child Death Reviews

When is a Society Internal Child Death Review requested for a child or youth?

CYDRA reviews the Society/Agency Child Fatality Case Summary Report and the Coroner’s Investigation Statement (CIS) and considers the following criteria when deciding if the Society/Agency will be requested to conduct and forward an Internal Review to CYDRA:

  • Meets the criteria of the 2006 Joint Directive (Society/Agency involvement within 12 months of the death)
  • When a child or youth dies in questionable circumstances; and
  • Where the circumstances surrounding the child/youth’s death may relate in any way to the reasons for service and/or Society involvement.

Why is a Society Internal Child Death Review requested?

An internal child death review is requested by CYDRA for the purposes of conducting an analysis of the context within which the death occurred.  Internal child death reviews provide an opportunity for individual Societies/Agencies, and the child welfare sector as a whole, to learn from child/youth deaths with a view to identifying areas of potential improvement to Society/Agency policies, practices and procedures.

Who completes the Society Internal Child Death Review?

When CYDRA requests that a Society/Agency undertake an internal child death review, the Society/Agency is required to establish a review team which must include an independent external reviewer with appropriate clinical expertise.