Program ‘prepares frontline workers to coach families in setting and achieving goals for healthy self-reliance’
Four employees of Children First, the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, “have completed the rigorous process of earning the National Family Development Credential (FDC) awarded through the University of Connecticut,” the nonprofit has announced.
Established in 1994, the Family Development Credential (FDC) “prepares frontline workers to coach families in setting and achieving goals for healthy self-reliance,” a news release explains. “To earn the credential, participants complete 90 hours of training, develop a portfolio demonstrating their skills, and pass a comprehensive exam,” the release adds.
By equipping Children First advocates “to better support parents’ goals and stability, this training helps strengthen family well-being and contributes to children’s school readiness and long-term success,” the release points out. All Children First Family advocates “hold this important credential, with supervisors and family strengthening staff also encouraged to take part in this opportunity,” the release says.
The four Children First Family advocates who most recently won the credential are Elena Hawley, Laura Swift, Katiuska Reyes and Mihaela Tessmer, along with Jasmine Tart of Children First partner agency Step Up Suncoast, the release notes. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening families across the region.”
The portfolio advisers who supported the graduates were Bailee Faulkner, Elaine Bellamy, Syraida Maldonado, Jennifer Kinney and Awilda Vasquez, the release says. The course was facilitated by Maria Buitrago, Children First Family advocate coach, “who holds the Family Development Leadership Credential from the University of Connecticut,” the release points out.
The credentials were awarded during Children First’s annual preservice training, the release says.
Founded in 1961, the release adds, Children First is ranked in the top 1% of more than 1,600 Head Starts nationwide. For more information, call 941-953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.