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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
(SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID): Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death
Investigation (SUIDI) Training
Material |
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This page includes the following materials—
Sudden Unexplained Infant
Death Investigation
Training Text
The Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation was written to assist those who
investigate infant deaths, and these materials were used at the
SUIDI National Training Academies.
At the conclusion of each section, discussion and sample
questions are provided to test readers in their knowledge of
the content.
The text is divided into the following four sections:
Section One: Infant Death Investigation Foundation Skills
This section consists of three knowledge-building chapters
written specifically to expose the student to essential
information needed to successfully perform an infant death
investigation. Topics include identifying the different types of
sudden unexplained infant deaths; understanding infant growth
and development; and learning the psychology of interviewing.
The material covered is supplemented with charts, graphs, and
illustrations. These materials are referenced throughout the
remaining chapters of the training text.
Section Two: Case Interviews
This section consists of two chapters devoted to witness
interviewing. The first chapter covers the types of interviews
that should be conducted with witnesses at the scene or with
other individuals in contact with the decedent. The second
chapter focuses on information that should be collected by other
agency professionals at the various scenes. The success of each
interview depends on the investigator’s ability to know who to
interview, what to ask, and how to ask the questions.
Section Three: Infant Scene Investigation
This section consists of two chapters. The first addresses how
to conduct a scene investigation and the second how to conduct a
doll reenactment.
Section Four: Pre-Autopsy and Post–Autopsy Reporting
This section consists of two chapters that provide an overview
of infant pre-autopsy and post-autopsy reporting. The SUID “Top
25” criteria are covered to teach the investigator the data
deemed critical to collect for forensic pathologists to conduct
their pre-autopsy review. The narrative report, along with its
content and formatting, is dissected and explained so
investigators can describe important aspects of the scene in a
clear, concise manner.
Download the training manual by individual chapters, appendixes,
glossary, and references in
a
PDF format.
Sudden, Unexplained Infant
Death Investigation: Guidelines for the Scene Investigator
Download Guidelines
for the Scene Investigator
PDF 459KB
The Guidelines for the Scene Investigator is a 39-page, 5x7
informational handbook that guides investigators in conducting an infant death investigation using recommended practices. The
handbook also demonstrates how to comprehensively report scene
investigation data to the pathologist conducting the autopsy and
determining the cause and manner of death. It is not intended to
take the place of existing laws or regulations.
The Guidelines for the Scene Investigator have been endorsed by
the National Sheriff’s Association, the National Association of
Medical Examiners, the International Coroners and Medical
Examiners Association, and the American Board of Medicolegal
Death Investigators.
The handbook consists of the following six sections—
- Section A: Investigative Tools and Equipment.
- Section B: Arriving at the Scene.
- Section C: Documenting and Evaluating the Scene.
- Section D: Documenting and Evaluating the Body.
- Section E: Establishing Infant Profile Information.
- Section F: Completing the Scene Investigation.
The handbook also includes the “Top 25" items forensic pathologist consider critical to
determining the cause and manner of death, before the forensic
autopsy is performed.
Curriculum Guide Directions
Download Curriculum
Guide
PDF 698KB
This
curriculum guide was created to improve teaching and evaluation
techniques in the death investigator education and training
programs. It provides instructional outlines and references to
assist the instructor in the educational program. Covering only
the topics delineated in the publication Sudden, Unexplained
Infant Death Investigation, it should be sufficiently
comprehensive to help subject matter experts design
instructional plans for teaching the recommended investigative
guidelines. In addition, the performance objectives and
criterion statements written for each task provide a consistent
way to establish standards for people completing the program.
This curriculum guide is representative of the occupational job
duty categories that list major activities and tasks performed
by an entry level death investigator. It contains a resource list and criteria statements
that indicate the minimum standards of performance accepted as
evidence of competence in completion of the task by participants
in the field of infant death investigation. This performance-based
curriculum guide helps the instructor develop a teaching
style where students learn by doing. It is based on task
analysis, and it reflects the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that
employers expect incumbent investigators to posses.
This guide is intended to be used to provide relevant training or
retraining for employment in the rapidly expanding field of medicolegal death investigation.
National SUIDI Training Academies
CDC began conducting train-the-trainer academies in five U.S. regions in 2006. These regional train-the-trainer academies provided training for the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a
5-member team per state, producing more than 250 trainers. The 5-member
teams consist of—
- Medical examiners and coroners.
- Law enforcement officers.
- Child advocate/protection experts.
- College faculty members.
- Medicolegal death scene investigators.
The SUIDI Training
Academies have concluded in May 2008. For local trainings,
states have access to their own trained five member team as well
as the curriculum materials available on this website.
Other Training Activities
CDC provided SUID investigation training for—
- The New York State Police Child Physical Abuse and Neglect
Seminar in Albany, New York.
Included training of 200 law enforcement officials, district
attorneys, parole officers, prosecutors, and child protective
services caseworkers during a 4-day training seminar.
- The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and
the Washington State Children’s Justice Conference in Seattle,
Washington. These organizations
held a 2-day training for law
enforcement officials, district attorneys, and other agencies dealing with
sudden, unexplained infant deaths.
CDC has worked with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)
representatives to identify specific training needs and implement
training workshops for AI/AN communities, and professionals and those
working in the AI/AN community. The following is a list of specific
training activities conducted in the AI/AN community—
- Provided information about the SUIDI at the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Tribal Public
Health Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Sought input about AI/AN training needs
from participants who attended the FBI's Indian Country Unit
Management Conference.
- Provided a 3– day training to
about 120 law enforcement officers and coroners. Training
took place in Riverton, Wyoming, at an Indian reservation and
included representatives from four states, many of whom work in
AI
areas.
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Page last reviewed: 10/24/08
Page last modified: 10/24/08
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion |
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