Overview

Family interviews are an important part of Fetal Infant Mortality Reviews (FIMR). They provide vital insight into the experiences of the family, what might have helped and what recommendations they have for the people and the institutions they interacted with in caring for their infant. In this role on the Kalamazoo County FIMR team, interviewers to be trained to conduct interviews with families who have lost an infant. The family interviewer will conduct one-on-one structured sessions with the mother, father and/or appropriate caregiver of the infant who has died, and whose case is under review by the Kalamazoo Fetal Infant Mortality Review Team. Kalamazoo FIMR reviews an average of 13 infant deaths a year. These interviews can be conducted anywhere the parent wishes, but having the interview in the parents’ home is most desirable.

The purpose of the FIMR interview is to:

• Gather information about the parents’ experiences before and during pregnancy.
• Gather information about the events during the infant’s life and around the time of death.
• Identify community assets and deficits that affected the parents’ life during the pregnancy, birth and death of their infant.
• Accurately summarize and convey this information so that it may be included within the FIMR case review document.
• Assess the family’s needs and provide culturally appropriate health and human service referrals as needed.
• Facilitate the bereavement process and provide appropriate referrals.

Responsibilities

• Participate fully in all required training.
• Maintains the confidentiality of all interviewees, case-related, and institutional information.
• Comply with public health and safety codes related to home visiting and pertinent reporting requirements.
• Follow protocols in making contact, obtaining consent and arranging interviews and follow-ups with interviewees communicating in person, by phone, by mail, and email.
• Use appropriately structured interview documents for recording responses and recording notes.
• Be prepared to provide culturally competent grief support referrals and assist families in accessing services as indicated and desired.
• Be prepared to provide referrals for counseling and any other needed services.
• Follow protocols in maintaining confidentiality of interview and interviewees.
• Participate in all team and supervisory meetings.
• Acquire knowledge of new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent, required.
• Experience with community outreach, performing home visits or conducting interviews, preferred.
• Additional education or work experience with individuals suffering trauma and loss, preferred.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel to various locations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Able and willing to transport mother/caregiver interviewee to public neutral location for interview if requested.
• Ability to learn active listening and culturally competent grief support skills.
• Ability to conduct outreach activities, per protocol.
• Ability to navigate Microsoft OneDrive.
• Ability to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision.