(Pictured: Top Row- Brian Olevano, Rachel Cron, Sara Chobot Bottom Row- Danielle Kenyon, Jody Morrell, Erica Bayne)
Tioga Opportunities, Inc. celebrated the recent graduation of the Family Development Credential class. The year’s class included members from Tioga Opportunities, Inc. and Family Enrichment Network, including Erica Bayne, Sara Chobot, Rachel Cron, Danielle Kenyon, Brian Olevano, and Jody Morrell. The Family Development Credential Program (FDC) is a professional development training that provides frontline family workers with the skills and competencies they need to empower families to identify their own strengths and goal.
The FDC focuses on family development from a strength-based approach and provides new knowledge and skills to help families become self-reliant and attain their goals. The FDC curriculum was developed by Cornell University and is awarded by the University of Connecticut. Participants had to complete at least 90 hours of interactive instruction, complete a skills portfolio, and pass a national credentialing exam.
“Family Development is essential to how I interact with community members. I look for strengths, resiliency and aim to empower families,” said Sara Chabot, Self Sufficiency Facilitator at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. “The course taught me skills to help facilitate families moving towards their goals,” she added. FDC trained staff work with families across the life span, including families with young children, teen parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and others.
The class is offered through the partnership of Tioga Opportunities, Inc and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County. For more information on upcoming Family Development Credential trainings, visit www.tiogaopp.org/family-development.
