Family Development Credential Portfolio Advisor’s Training and Review

For new and experienced portfolio advisors.

Presented by Regina Wright, MHC, MS

(941) 809-3504

reginaw@rcma.org

Adapted from Cornell PowerPoint Presentation for use in the Florida FDC Program -- 2/15/2010

2010 RCMA FDC Portfolio Advisors’ Orientation and Training

Purpose:

To orient new Family Development Credential (FDC) portfolio advisors to their roles.

To provide a refresher overview for current FDC portfolio advisors.

Objectives of the FDC Portfolio Advisor’s Training and Orientation

Present basic principles of family development.

Review the role of an advisor.

Instruction on completing required forms.

Instruction for supporting the student’s learning:

• Activities to Extend Learning

• Skills Practices

• Family Development Plan & follow-ups

Tips for Portfolio Advisors

Principles of Family Development

Every person and family has strengths.

Every family has its own values and knowledge of its needs.

Workers are effective when they share power with families.

Families have a right to set their own goals.

The Curriculum

1. Family Development: A Sustainable Route to Healthy Self-Reliance

2. Communicating with Skill and Heart3. Taking good care of yourself4. Diversity5. Strengths-based Assessment6. Helping Families Set and Reach Goals7. Helping Families Access Specialized Services8. Home Visiting9. Facilitation Skills: Family Conferences,

Support Groups and Community Meetings10. Collaboration

Student Requirements

90 hours of class work.

Field work.

Statewide exam.

Development of portfolio.

The Portfolio

Each Chapter:

3 Activities to Extend Learning from three different sections.

One Skill Practice

A Goal Plan

A Family Development Plan created in partnership with a family.

Two reviews of the Family Development Plan.

One reflection.

What is the role of a FDC portfolio advisor?

The FDC Portfolio Advisor offers support and guidance to workers preparing their FDC portfolio .

The advisor also supports students in applying family development skills to real work with families.

How does a FDC Portfolio Advisor help?

Meets with the student for 45-60 minutes for each chapter.

Reviews three Activities to Extend Learning for each chapter and provides VERBAL or written feedback.

Assists with development and provides verbal and WRITTEN feedback on a worker’s Skills Practice for each chapter.

Requirements for Portfolio Advisors

A B.A. is recommended but not required for Florida FDC portfolio advisors.

Demonstrate quality support to students.

Register with Redlands Christian Migrant Association.

Participate in biannual support meetings/conference calls.

FDC Portfolio Development Forms

Statement of Confidentiality Activities to Extend Learning

and Skills Practice Plan Activities to Extend Learning Student Skill Practice Advisor’s Feedback Family Development Plan Family Development Plan

Reflection Portfolio Checklist Application to Receive FDC

Credential

Statement

Of

Confidentiality

Activity to

Extend

Learning

and

Skills

Practice

Plan

Sample

Activities and Skill Practice Plan

Advisor’s Role in assessing Activities to Extend Learning

Read each chapter’s three Activities to Extend Learning for completeness to ensure:

– The responses address each part of a question.

– Responses demonstrate learning about a strength-based approach.

– Responses show critical thinking and reflection.

* Written feedback on Activities to Extend Learning is not required, however verbal feedback is expected.

Activity

To

Extend

Learning

Form

Sample

Activity

To

Extend

Learning

Advisor’s Role in development of Skills Practices

Review the Skills Practice Plan with workers to determine that:

– The Skills Practice demonstrates application of a learning objective from the chapter.

– It is a pre-planned activity that has not been previously done.

– It is doable with a balance of comfort and “stretch” in demonstrating skills and concepts.

– Includes a reflection after completion that demonstrates knowledge or understanding (vs. only an account of the activity).

Advisor’s Role in development of Skills Practices (continued)

For every Skills Practice, the portfolio advisor provides written feedback that:

– Is addressed to the worker (not the reviewer, RCMA or FGCU)

– Identifies a worker’s strengths that are observable or implied from the practice

– Connects knowledge and understanding with suggestions for future practice.

– Describes specific examples of learning instead of generic strengths (i.e. “good job”).

Skill

Practice

Form

Sample

Skill

Practice

Advisor

Reflection

Form

Sample

Advisor

Reflection

Advisor’s Role in Assessing Family Development Plans

Review the Family Development Plan (original plan and the two follow-ups to ensure they include:

– A major goal, measurable steps and timeframes to reach it (goals may change from plan to plan)

– Strengths and concerns recorded by worker and the family

– Additional services and resources (if available)

– An individual/family’s goal for healthier self-reliance.

Advisor’s Role in reviewing the Reflection on One Family’s Progress Using the Family Development PlanIt should: Briefly summarize the family development goal

and process. Provide evidence that the worker used family

development principles and practices. Describe what worked and what the worker

might do differently in the future. Reflect worker’s knowledge, learning and

insights about family development from the process.

Also refer to these forms:

FDC Portfolio Checklist

Family Development Plan (English and/or Spanish)

Family Development Plan Follow-Up

Reflection on One Family’s Progress on the Family Development Plans

Application to Receive the FDC Credential

General Portfolio Development Guidelines

Agency supervisors may not be FDC portfolio advisors for workers they supervise directly.

Portfolio advisors must participate in biannual RCMA-led update conference calls.

Portfolio advisors agree to be on RCMA email mailing list to receive updates and to network with others

FDC instructors, advisors and students may download forms from the RCMA website (no password required for forms).

Please contact Regina Wright (reginaw@rcma.org) to obtain password for overhead slides (instructors only).– Please note: the slides are not the complete text book.

FDC Portfolio Submission

Have worker make a copy of their portfolio (may submit original or copy).

Before submission, review all portfolios for completeness and signatures.

Portfolios should be sent (with tracking delivery) to reviewer in a 10 x 13” manila envelope with worker’s name and mailing address. (Instructor has portfolio reviewer’s name and mailing address).

Missing submissions or signatures will be returned for completion before final approval.

Tips for Portfolio Advisors Be open-minded.

Ensure the student brings the text to your meetings.

Support workers to do their best work.

Ask students to provide additional information if necessary.

Establish a partnership with the worker.

Establish a partnership with the instructor.

Look for strengths and give positive feedback.

Reflect on your own strengths as an advisor.

Please call with questions.

Enjoy yourself!

Benefits to Advisors

An opportunity to practice strength-based support.

Development of components of supervisory skills.

Resume may reflect skills related to educational and professional development support.

Thank You!

Please contact me with questions, ideas, feedback, or your interest in taking the FDC Course or becoming an instructor.

Regina Wright, MHC, MS

FDC Training & Credentialing Coordinator

(941) 809-3504

reginaw@rcma.org

http://www.rcma.org/FL_Family_Dev.asp