RFA Training

Next Virtual Training: March 15 and 16, 2025

8:00-3:00 Mountain Time each day

Certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation 11.5 Credit Hours

Training Fee is $375.00

 Certification Fee: $300 for three years.

Our two-day virtual or in-person training prepares participants to conduct Retrospective Fatality Analysis, expanding upon the psychological autopsy methodology, adding increased breadth and depth. The RFA Process was developed to be used in a variety of contexts, including: Informing suicide prevention efforts, survivor meaning making, research, legal testimony, equivocal death determinations, and postvention.

Requirements to attend the training:

·Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a social science related field.

·Experience with interviewing

·Experience with loss survivors.

Requirements for full certification:

1. Attend and complete RFA’s two-day training.

2. Analyze a decedent, who died by suicide.  

Two Paths to RFA Certification:

Path 1

· Data Collection:
·Collect sources of information, including medical records, police reports, etc.

· Complete an assigned case using the (RFA) protocol.
 

 Interviews:

·Ensure applicable paperwork regarding consents is signed
·Begin interviews as assigned by supervisor

  ·Interview at least four sources who knew the decedent.

·Work closely with the RFA (C-RFA) to ensure interview skills are effective.

Synthesis:
·Write the final report 

·Present the final report to the RFA Consultants for review.

· Consultants will review the report

· Complete the recommended changes are 

· RFA Consultants will vote upon certification.

Submission and Evaluation:
·Submit the report to the reviewers for evaluation.

· Schedule a meeting to receive feedback.

· If improvements are needed, recommendations are provided and revisions are expected. Upon RFA approval, the certification is completed. Recommended revisions are expected.

  Path 2

· Data Collection:
·Identify and collect scripted information provided by proxy interviewees and  prepared by RFA as part of a script.

· Incorporate medical records, forensic reports, etc. that will be provided by RFA

Interviews:
·Schedule an interview with a loss survivor who has consented to participate.

· Conduct and record this interview using the RFA protocol (this is the only in-person interview required).

·Distribute the recorded interview to reviewers

I·nterview skills will be evaluated based on the recorded session.
 

Synthesis:
·Combine  information from the interview with additional scripted information.

·Write the final report Consultants will review the report and notify the applicant in writing regarding any recommended changes.

· Make the recommended changes and resubmit to RFA

·RFA Consultants will vote to certify or not certify the applicant, completing the certification process.

· Recommended revisions are expected.

 

 Email questions to rfaconsultantsllc@gmail.com