About FDC

What is the Family Development Training and Credentialing Program

The Family Development Credentialing (FDC) Program is a professional development course and credentialing program for frontline family workers to learn and practice skills of strength-based family support with families.

FDC courses are offered to frontline family workers from a wide range of government, private, and not-for-profit agencies as well as businesses and large corporations.

Family development trainees work with families across the life span including families with young children, teen parents, retired people, people with disabilities, and many other groups.

To earn the FDC, a worker:

• completes 90 hours of interactive classroom instruction and portfolio advisement based on the Empowerment Skills for Family Workers curriculum;
• prepares a Skills Portfolio with support of a portfolio advisor; and
• passes a state credentialing exam.

FDC courses are offered through interagency partnerships by community-based instructors and portfolio advisors who are trained by the Cornell University affiliate in Pennsylvania, the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP). Information on costs for the training and the credential is available through your local contact or the CAAP.

The FDC Course

• Interactive instruction and portfolio advisement, based on the text, Empowerment Skills for Family Workers, a strengths-based family support curriculum developed by Cornell University.
• Classes offered by community-based instructors trained and supported by the Pennsylvania FDC system.
• An experiential and supportive adult learning environment that promotes discussion and reflection.
• Development of a Skills Portfolio documenting knowledge and skills with guidance of a trained portfolio advisor.

With successful completion of the FDC course, an approved portfolio, and passing a standardized exam, workers earn the nationally recognized and respected FDC Credential.

Core Competencies (Chapters) of the FDC Course

1. Family Development: A Sustainable Route to Healthy Self-Reliance
2. Communicating with Skill and Heart
3. Taking Good Care of Yourself
4. Diversity
5. Strengths-based Assessment
6. Helping Families Set and Reach Goals
7. Helping Families Access Specialized Services
8. Home Visiting
9. Facilitation Skills: Family Conferences, Support Groups and Community Meetings
10. Collaboration