Child Welfare Certification

1. Child Welfare Certification Amy Peloquin Director of Certification 850-222-6314 ~ apeloquin@flcertificationboard.org www.flcertificationboard.org

2. Discussion Topics • Reciprocity • New Employee Certification (Employer Sponsored Applicants) • Old vs. New Requirements • Question/Answer

3. Reciprocity • Eligibility • Persons holding DCF-issued certification in good standingprior to January 1, 2012. • Persons holding expired DCF-issued certification with no break in service. • Persons who passed the written exam but did not complete the FBPA by January 1, 2012.

4. Reciprocity • Persons holding DCF-issued certification in good standingprior to January 1, 2012. • Staff member completes reciprocity application. • Employer completes attestation of certification type held and successful completion of Level 2 background check.

5. Reciprocity • Persons holding expired DCF-issued certification with no break in service. • Less than 3-years since expiration: show 48 hours of CEUs, complete application, submit employer attestation. • More than 3-years since expiration: show 48 hours of CEUs, complete application, submit employer attestation, pass waiver exam.

6. Reciprocity • Persons who passed the written exam but did not complete the FBPA by January 1, 2012. • Staff member completes reciprocity application. • Employer completes attestation of certification type held and successful completion of Level 2 background check. • Staff member completes FBPA orFCB supervision and experience requirements by 10-31-12.

7. Reciprocity ~ Fees • There is NO fee for credentials awarded to applicants who submitted an application and all required documents by 10-31-12. • Documents received at the FCB after 10-31-12 must be postmarked or email date stamped on or before 10-31-12 to be valid. • There is a $100 fee to applicants who are still “in-process” after 10-31-12.

8. Reciprocity ~ In-process • IF the application has been received by 10-31-12; BUT • the FBPA or FCB supervision and experience documentation HAS NOT been met by 10-31-12; THEN • the applicant must pay a $100 fee and has a maximum of 3 months to fulfill FBPA or FCB requirements. • Failure to complete the process by 12-31-12 will result in starting the process as a new applicant, including payment of all certification fees.

9. Reciprocity ~ Renewal • All credentials issued during reciprocity period expire 10-31-13. • Renewal payments ($200) and CEUs (40) are due on or before 10-31-13. • Persons who renew in 2013 will be issued a credential that is valid until 10-31-15.

10. Reciprocity ~ Renewal CEUs • For credentials that renew in 2013 • CEUs will be prorated and must be earned between 10-31-11 and 10-31-13. • For credentials that renew after 10-31-14 • 20 CEUs must be earned between 10-31-13 and 10-31-14 • 20 CEUs must be earned between 10-31-14 and 10-31-15.

11. Reciprocity questions? Next … New Employee Certification

12. New Employee Certification • Certification required for • protective investigators, case managers, licensing staff, and their supervisors; and • persons who • conduct parent preparation pre-service training for prospective caregivers; • conduct home visit assessment for foster or adoptive home studies of prospective caregivers; or • approve foster or adoptive home studies of prospective caregivers.

13. New Employee Certification • Employees are certified in their discipline, not in their position. • Employees earn child welfare certification in one of the following disciplines: • Protective Investigations • Case Management • Licensing

14. Certification Standards • Uniform standards. • Multiple paths to achieve standards.

15. Certification Standards • Prequalification standards • Degree requirements • Training requirements • Testing requirements • Direct supervision requirements • On-the-job experience requirements • Post-certification standards • Annual continuing education requirements • Ethical and professional practice requirements

16. New Employee Certification

17. New Employee Certification

18. Certification Forms • All forms are currently manual. • Forms are maintained on the FCB website. • Select “certifications” from the menu bar. • Select “child welfare” from the menu bar. • Select “employer sponsored applicants” from the webpage. • Print the full application from the website. (The full application includes directions, policy, applicant forms & employer forms.)

19. Written Exam • DCF post-test will be used for certification purposes until at least 10-1-12. • There will not be a testing fee until the DCF test is retired and the FCB test is initiated. • The FCB test fee is $50 per administration. • The FCB does not limit the number of test attempts, the employer may limit the number of test attempts.

20. The Field Based Performance Assessment (FBAP) • May be used for certification purposes until 10-31-12. • May ONLY be used for certification purposes after 10-31-12 if the applicant failed the first FPBA attempt and can pass the 2nd attempt by 12-31-12.

21. Questions? Next … Old vs. New Requirements

22. 65C-33, FAC • The FCB has been orally advised that 65C-33 is no longer valid. To date, DCF has not published direction that the code is no longer valid. • The FCB is proceeding “as if” 65C-33 is no longer valid. All content on following slides are working assumptions until further notice.

23. 65C-33 dictated policy related to: • Certification program standards • Child Welfare pre-service training • Pre-service training assessments • Phase II standards, including caseload and FBPA standards • Supervisor certification • Trainer certification • Program administration

24. DCF new rule authority • Position classifications that require certification as a condition of employment. • Training requirements, above and beyond certification training standards. • Approval process for: • Third party credentialing entities, • Core competencies, and • Pre-service curriculum.

25. Old Rule vs. New Approach • Certification program standards: now are established and verified by the FCB • Child Welfare pre-service training: now is selected by the employer; must reflect DCF-approved core competencies; must be approved by DCF • Pre-service training assessments: ultimately, testing is the responsibility of the FCB

26. Old Rule vs. New Approach • Protected caseload: no longer required by rule, should be established by employer policy • FBPA standards: replaced by direct supervision and on-the-job experience requirements (optional if can be completed by 10-31-12)

27. Old Rule vs. New Approach • Supervisor certification: supervisors must be certified in the appropriate discipline but no longer earn specific supervisor certification. Employers should establish position qualifications, including required training and on-the-job experience. • Trainer certification: Trainers are no longer required to be certified. Employers should establish policy for hiring qualified training staff.

28. Old Rule vs. New Approach • Program administration • Rule requirements NOT addressed by FCB program certification policy should be addressed by employer policy. • The rule provides solid guidance for employers when establishing policy related to training and preparing new employees to be successful child welfare professionals.

29. Old Rule vs. New Approach • CERTIFICATION IS ONE PIECE OF A LARGER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. • In and of itself, it will not fix turnover or replace quality supervision, on-going training and mentoring. • It will assure that certified staff have the minimum knowledge and skills necessary to perform competently, safely, and professionally under standard supervision.

30. Questions? Amy Peloquin Director of Certification Florida Certification Board 1715 South Gadsden Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-222-6314 apeloquin@flcertificationboard.org www.flcertificationboard.org