Next-of-Kin Interview Toolkit

A next-of-kin (NOK) interview provides an in-depth look at how someone lived, their social supports, and the circumstances that led to an overdose death. NOK interviews are tools overdose fatality reviews (OFRs) can use to expand their understanding of the life experiences of a decedent and identify non-traditional touchpoints or systems that may not be represented by OFR team members. This toolkit provides readers with information needed to identify, conduct, and report on an NOK interview.

Modules

Why Conduct an NOK Interview?
Who Should Conduct an NOK Interview?
When to Connect With NOK?
How to Conduct an NOK Interview
Where to Store NOK Interview Data
How to Conduct an NOK Interview
Self-care for NOK Interviewers

Toolkit Design

The Next-of-Kin Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation is a companion document to Overdose Fatality Review: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation. This guide provides readers with information needed to identify, conduct, and report on an NOK interview. The content draws on practice-based knowledge of conducting NOK interviews as part of the OFR. It is organized into seven modules and an appendix with a list of common phrases and definitions and resources.

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Webinar: Next-of-Kin Interviews

This webinar provides participants with an overview of an NOK interview, explains the importance of a NOK interview, and discusses new available resources for the field to support the use of NOK interviews. The webinar features two experts who model the national standards for NOK interviews through their own professional experiences conducting NOK interviews.

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Next-of-Kin Interviewer Training

The NOK interviewer training is a free, four-hour training for those individuals who will be conducting the NOK interview for an OFR. This training is led by three trainers with extensive professional experience completing NOK interviews for OFRs. The NOK interviewer training is offered in a virtual setting and on an application basis.

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Next-of-Kin Learning Community

The NOK Learning Community is a bi-monthly convening for professionals who are completing an NOK interview for an OFR. NOK practitioners are encouraged to take part in this call to connect with practitioners across the country and cultivate understanding.

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OFR Data System

The OFR Data System assists OFRs in capturing standard information from their case reviews, monitoring recommendations, and storing NOK interview findings. The OFR Data System is free to use.

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Resources

Next-of-Kin Implementation Checklist

Online Resource - 8/22/2024

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This document includes guidance on how to implement the NOK interview process for both the agency employing the NOK and for the NOK interviewer as well. The agency that employs the NOK interviewer has a set of responsibilities to establish prior to hiring or adding NOK interview job duties to an existing employee, which are outlined in this document. This resource also includes a checklist for the NOK interviewer to help establish logistics of the program within the agency prior to any engagement with a NOK. The NOK Implementation Checklist is a companion document to Next-of-Kin Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation.
NOK Implementation Checklist

Next-of-Kin After Engagement Letter Voicemail

Sample - 11/16/2023

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Next-of-kin (NOK) interviewers may reach out to family members, loved ones, and friends to complete an interview to learn more about the contributing circumstances and conditions that lead to a death. Those individuals completing an NOK interview may wish to use a script to consistently leave a voicemail message to coordinate an NOK interview. This is a sample audio script when a call is placed after a letter has been sent out to request an interview.
This is a sample audio script when a call is placed after a letter has been sent out to request an interview.

Next-of-Kin No Initial Contact Voicemail

Sample - 11/16/2023

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Next-of-kin (NOK) interviewers may reach out to family members, loved ones, and friends to complete an interview to learn more about the contributing circumstances and conditions that lead to a death. Those individuals completing an NOK interview may wish to use a script to consistently leave a voicemail message to coordinate an NOK interview. This is a sample audio script when a call is placed when there has been no initial contact with the identified NOK.
Sample script for when Next-of-Kin interviewers reach out to family members, loved ones, and friends to complete an interview when there has been no initial contact with the identified Next-of-Kin.

Overdose Fatality Review Voicemail Script for Next-of-Kin Interviewers

Sample - 11/16/2023

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Next-of-kin (NOK) interviewers may reach out to family members, loved ones, and friends to complete an interview to learn more about the contributing circumstances and conditions that lead to a death. Those individuals completing an NOK interview may wish to use a script to consistently leave a voicemail message to coordinate an NOK interview. Sometimes a call is placed when there has been no initial contact with the identified NOK, while other times a phone call is placed after a letter has been sent out to request an interview. Below are sample scripts for each circumstance that can be utilized when leaving a voicemail message with an NOK.
- Next-of-Kin No Initial Contact
- Next-of-Kin After Engagement Letter Voicemail
This is a sample script for Next-of-Kin Interviewers to use when leaving a voicemail.

Overdose Fatality Review: Next-of-Kin Phone and Voicemail Guidelines

Briefing Sheet - 10/27/2023

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This is a companion document to the resource Next-of-Kin (NOK) Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation. These guidelines were taken and adapted from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner.
Next-of-kin (NOK) interviewers should use this guidance to help their agency develop guidelines for reviewing NOK-related phone calls, setting up voicemail messages, and handling phone messages.

How do I access the next-of-kin module?

Video - 10/18/2022

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This video will cover how to access the next-of-kin module.
This video will cover how to access the next-of-kin module.

Next-of-Kin Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation

Toolkit - 3/22/2022

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The goal of the interview is to collect information about the decedent’s life to identify factors that contributed to a death to identify missed opportunities for prevention and intervention. The content draws on practice-based knowledge of conducting NOK interviews as part of the overdose fatality review (OFR). It is organized into seven modules and an appendix with a list of common phrases and definitions and resources.

This toolkit is a companion document to the Overdose Fatality Review: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation and was created with the support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This toolkit provides readers with information needed to identify, conduct, and report on a next-of-kin (NOK) interview.

Next-of-Kin Interviews

Webinar - 3/16/2022

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A next-of-kin interview provides an in-depth look at how someone lived, their social supports and the circumstances that lead to an overdose death. Next-of-kin interviews are tools overdose fatality reviews (OFRs) can use to expand their understanding of the life experiences of a decedent and identify non-traditional touchpoints or systems that may not be represented by the OFR members. This webinar will give participants an overview of a next-of-kin interview, explain the importance of a next-of-kin interview, and discuss new available resources for the field to support the use of next-of-kin interviews.

Presenters
- Lauren Savitskas, M.P.H., Senior Research Associate, IIR (Moderator)
- Megan Broekemeier, M.P.H., C.H.E.S, Office of the Medical Examiner, Utah Department of Health (Presenter)
- Melissa Weisel, MSW, LCSW, MSM, New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) (Presenter)
- Mallory O'Brien, M.S., Ph.D., Senior Policy Advisor, BJA, COSSAP, Consultant IPA, CDC (Welcome)
Resources
- Presentation Slides
This webinar will give participants an overview of a next-of-kin interview, explain the importance of a NOK interview, and discuss new resources for the field to support the use of NOK interviews.