Data released Thursday by the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force show that child death rates in the state ticked downward slightly in 2011 to the lowest rate yet recorded. In 2011, there were 57.4 deaths per 100,000 children. That’s a decline of 46 percent over the past 20 years.

Elizabeth Hudgins is the Executive Director of the NC Child Fatality Task Force. She says more investment in education programs and tougher public policies have made a big difference.

“Funding for medications to help reduce pre-term births and the graduated driver’s license which helps teenagers learn how to drive in steps things like that all working together have had a tremendous result in reducing the child death rate over time,” says Hudgins.

Between 2007-2011, there were 342 Infant and Child deaths in Forsyth County and 406 in Guilford County.

The State Center for Health Statistics calculated the child death rates using U.S. Census Data and death records. The report says Illness is a major cause of death, accounting for 19 percent of child deaths last year. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury death for children. Hudgins says the data also shows Poisoning is the fastest growing cause of child death.

“Poisoning is increasing and this is largely due to the misuse of prescription drugs. It is a problem for children, teens and adults in other states as well so this is a growing concern,” says Hudgins.