Credentialing Policies & Procedures

The Family Development Training and Credentialing (FDC) Program was created by Cornell University, College of Human Ecology and FDC-PA is the official affiliate of the program in Pennsylvania.

It is offered through the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, and all of the official training programs in Pennsylvania are coordinated by a designated CAAP staff approved by Cornell University and are governed by specific program policies and procedures. Below is a guide to these policies and procedures. It should give those interested in becoming credentialed a good idea of how the process works.

A. Selection of applicants for FDC Instructors Institute

Applicants for the FDC Instructors Institute are selected based on specific criteria (not listed in order of importance):

  1. Clear plan for and commitment to join a local implementation team to offer a full FDC-PA training and credentialing program.
  2. Evidence of collaboration with other agencies, including the local Community Action Agency, to plan and/or implement an FDC-PA training program.
  3. Plan to offer training to an interagency group of workers. In-house staff training programs are asked to make at least 1/4 of spaces available for workers from other agencies/systems.
  4. Understanding of and commitment to the strengths-based, family development, empowerment model.
  5. Training and/or adult education skills and experience including ability to facilitate group process.

Individuals interested in becoming Instructors should have a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a related field, be firmly committed to the strengths-based approach, have excellent oral communication skills and be experienced as trainers or facilitators.

B. Commitment from applicants for official training

Applicants accepted to the Institute are asked to make both an individual commitment and have a commitment from their employer (or sponsoring agency/collaboration) that they will:

  1. Attend each day of the FDC Instructor's Institute
  2. Pay the Institute registration fee
  3. Read the entire Worker Handbook and review the Instructor's Manual and Portfolio Advisor's Manual.
  4. Consult with the CAAP when planning to establish a local program.
  5. Develop local policies and procedures which are approved by the CAAP
  6. Begin a FDC training and credentialing program within 18 months of the Institute.

C. Membership in the FDC-PA Network: Commitment from official FDC-PA Instructors and sponsoring organizations

Only Instructors who are active members of the FDC-PA Network can lead FDC classes in Pennsylvania that prepare workers to earn the FDC credential. To become a member of the FDC-PA Network after the Institute, the participant submits a Letter of Commitment on agency letterhead, signed jointly by him/her, and his/her supervisor or the Lead Agency that is sponsoring the local FDC training. This letter is sent to Barbara Mooney, FDC-PA Coordinator, Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, 222 Pine St., Harrisburg, PA 17101.

The Letter of Commitment may re-state or attach the Individual Commitment made by the Instructor prior to the Institute. Additional logistics that must be part of the final Instructor/Agency commitment include:

  1. Individual agencies agree to participate with Lead Agency to establish clear policies, including attendance requirements, and submission deadlines for portfolio work. Requirements of scheduling a local program include offering a minimum of one training session per month during an active program, and offer all ten chapters of the Empowerment Skills for Family Workers curriculum and portfolio advisement (at least 90 hours of training) in a consecutive schedule.
  2. Agency and Instructor agree to support and model behavior and skills critical to the family development process.
  3. Instructor will be provided time and will be supported in the implementation of the local FDC-PA training program. This will include support for participation in the Instructor's Network -- sharing experiences with other instructors, and keeping in touch with the CAAP.
  4. Agency and Instructor will work cooperatively with any other FDC-PA Instructors in their area, coordinating their schedules and marketing so that the need for FDC training is met, and the program is well-respected in their community.

The CAAP must receive the commitment letter before any official "Start Forms" that acknowledges the beginning of an official FDC class are accepted. Portfolios will not be accepted from instructors who have not submitted the commitment letter.

After this letter is received, instructors are issued an Instructor's Certificate which indicates active membership in the FDC-PA Instructors Network.

D. Staying Active in FDC Instructors Network

To stay active, instructors:

  1. Keep the commitments listed above.
  2. Offer a local training program or participate in a local implementation team.
  3. Participate in an FDC Instructors Update meeting every year.

If this has not occurred the instructor will be considered inactive, and the CAAP will not accept portfolios from their classes. To be reconsidered as active, an inactive instructor shall write a letter to the CAAP requesting active status, receive technical assistance from the CAAP to become aware of updates, and contact active instructors, local implementation teams, and local Host Agencies in their communities to coordinate planning for their training program.

E. Procedures for FDC-PA candidate assessment

Workers in FDC-PA training programs work toward earning an FDC credential, in addition to completing the training portion of the program.

  1. To be eligible for the FDC credential, individuals complete a portfolio demonstrating the application of the skills that they have acquired in training. They work with a portfolio advisor who reviews their portfolio materials and provides guidance and feedback during the process. Portfolios must include, for each of the ten chapters, responses to at least three Activities to Extend Your Learning, one Skills Practice and one Skills Practice Reflection. Portfolios must include three Family Development Plans created with one family, and a one page statement called Reflections on One Family's Progress Documented through the Family Development Plan.Those workers whose portfolios are not satisfactory will be offered an opportunity to work with their portfolio advisor, or another portfolio advisor, and their instructor(s) to refine their portfolio within one year.
  2. When an FDC class has completed the training sessions and portfolios, workers take an examination to assess their knowledge. See Section H for information on the Exam. Complete instructions for the FDC Candidate Assessment Procedures are in a separate document.

F. Selection and Role of Portfolio Advisors

Official FDC-PA Instructors select and orient Portfolio Advisors for their own programs. Portfolio Advisors will receive local training offered by the CAAP in order to begin offering portfolio advisement. Prospective Portfolio Advisors are strongly encouraged, but not required to attend an FDC Instructors Institute. Once in service, active Portfolio Advisors must attend a CAAP-led Portfolio Advisor's Update Meeting every year. Update meetings will be held in multiple locations across the state.

The Portfolio Advisor is a key team member to the mentoring process for workers. Portfolio Advisors assist the workers in gaining and using family development skills and establishing a portfolio. The portfolio stands as a record that assesses and demonstrates the worker's accomplishments toward skills for family development. Portfolio Advisors provide assistance by:

  1. Presenting themselves to workers as models in behavior and skills critical to the family development process
  2. Offering feedback to workers on their writing in response to Activities to Extend Your Learning.
  3. Reviewing and approving the Skills Practice Plan.
  4. Providing written feedback on the actual Skills Practice and the Skills Practice Reflection that includes both written and oral information from the worker.
  5. Assisting workers as needed with their three Family Development Plans with ONE family and their Reflection statement.

Portfolio Advisors may also lead some sessions of the training program. Individuals interested in becoming Portfolio Advisors should have a Bachelor's Degree or higher in a related field, be firmly committed to the strengths-based approach and have excellent written communication skills.

G. Commitment from Portfolio Advisors

All Portfolio Advisors must be familiar with Empowerment Skills for Family Workers Handbook and the Portfolio Advisors Manual. Portfolio Advisors must attend a sufficient number of training sessions to understand the workers' experience there. What will be considered a "sufficient number" of training sessions is to be determined by the local implementation team, approved by the CAAP, and included in the local policies and procedures.
The following procedures are designed to avoid conflict of interest:

  1. Agency supervisors may not be Portfolio Advisors for workers they directly supervise. Likewise, workers may not be Portfolio Advisors for their own supervisors. Any close personal or work relationship must also be avoided when making Portfolio Advisement assignments.
  2. Circumstances of Portfolio Advisors assisting other Portfolio Advisors must be approved by the CAAP.

Only Portfolio Advisors Instructors who are active members of the FDC-PA Network can provide advisement in classes in Pennsylvania that prepare workers to earn the FDC credential. To become a member of the FDC-PA Network after the Advisors Training, the participant submits a Letter of Commitment on agency letterhead, signed jointly by him/her, and his/her supervisor or the Lead Agency that is sponsoring the local FDC training. This letter is sent to Barbara Mooney, FDC-PA Coordinator, Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, 222 Pine St., Harrisburg, PA 17101. The Letter of Commitment identifies the willingness to participate on a local implementation team and should cite willingness to adhere to both state and local policies and procedures.

H. Administering the FDC exam

Instructors may use the ten-question exam included in the introductory chapter of the updated Instructor's Manual as practice. See the separate document: Instructions to FDC Instructors for Administering the FDC Exam for specific directions on the administration of the exam.

Workers who do not pass the exam, but have successfully completed portfolios, can re-take the exam once, within a year, at a site where another training program is completing their work.

I. Credentialing

The CAAP is responsible for documenting that the worker has qualified for the FDC credential, for collaborating with Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) as the credentialing body, and for maintaining permanent records of who has earned the credential. The CAAP will:

  1. Review the portfolios.
  2. Inform instructors whether workers have a satisfactory portfolio.
  3. Send exams to instructor(s) once their group's portfolios and the check for credentialing fees has been received.
  4. Send the exam to IUP for scoring
  5. Inform instructors whether workers passed the exam (a score of 80% or higher) and satisfactorily completed the portfolios.
  6. Confirm, with instructors, the correct spelling of workers' names for credential.
  7. Collaborate with the Host Agency to inform any workers who did not pass the exam or have a satisfactory portfolio. This process will include instructions as to what worker must do to take the exam again or revise and resubmit the portfolio.
  8. Once IUP 's Division of Continuing Education awards the credentials, send the original to the instructors or workers based on instructions from the instructors. The CAAP will maintain a copy of the credential.
  9. Maintain a registry of workers who have received the FDC credential.

Workers may postpone submitting the portfolio and taking the exam for up to one year after the completion of a training class, with prior approval and agreement for portfolio advisement and exam proctoring from local instructors/portfolio advisors.

Workers who either do not pass the exam or do not complete a satisfactory portfolio, will be encouraged to retake some, or all, of the FDC training program within one year, and complete or correct their portfolio (if appropriate), before going through the examination process again. If needed steps are taken within one year, no additional assessment fee will be charged.

J. College credit

An important benefit of FDC credentialing is the opportunity to earn college credit.

  1. CAAP has been accepted for inclusion in the National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) process. PONSI is a program originated by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York, designed to serve as a link between programs of study at degree-granting institutions and the educational efforts sponsored by business, government, professional associations, and other non-college organizations. National PONSI has reviewed the FDC program in six states and has made separate recommendations for 7 credits for those who have earned the FDC credential. The FDC program is included in College Credit Recommendation, a directory used by colleges and universities nationwide. The directory of Pennsylvania Colleges and Universities that participate in the PONSI program is available on line at http://www.nationalponsi.org/ The National PONSI Transcript Service is an official university transcript service for organizations that participate in National PONSI. Sponsored by Excelsior College, it lists the FDC as college credit on an official transcript of The University of the State of New York, maintain the transcripts and send them to colleges at each student's request.
  2. Individual colleges are being requested to make decisions about including FDC classes in curriculum offerings. Information regarding these efforts will be provided as they become available.
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