Greetings and Happy 2014 from Pathways Consultants
This month we are working hard designing professional development training sequences for both adult workforce development systems and youth employment/youth development agencies. We often look to nationally recognized competencies as a starting point for skills professionals need to succeed in their field. Research shows that on-going professional development of staff leads to better practice, improves program quality, and increases positive program outcomes. A few competency frameworks that guide the development of our workshops, professional learning communities, and coaching include:
Workforce Development
Career Development Facilitator Competencies--Created by the National Career Development Association, these competencies are geared for professionals who work in public workforce development agencies. Training is offered nationally and through e-learning platforms. People who complete the certificate program receive a credential recognized by the Center for Credentialing and Education. This credential is internationally recognized and is portable all over the world.
As the national professional association representing the field of workforce development, National Association for Workforce Development Professionals has defined ten core competencies that one must possess in order to call oneself a "Workforce Development Professional." These are broken down into specialty areas: Business and Employer Services, Job Seeker Services, Management Services, and Youth Services. In order to become a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP), you must provide documentation of at least 60 hours of professional development in the past three years that link to the specific CWDP competency areas.
Youth Development and Youth Employment
The National Collaborative for Workforce and Disability has published a list of 10 core competencies for working with all youth. Their website offers extensive professional development resources, self- an organizational assessments, online study guides, articles, handbooks and other web resources.
The National After School Association also developed a set of 10 core competencies for youth development practitioners to demonstrate expertise in their field. Their site offers some online e-learning opportunities and more are being developed in the coming year.
If you know of other national frameworks, please share them with us.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our events this spring. Please email us if you'd like to find out more.
Best,
Amanda Gerrie and Kim Coulthurst
Partners, Pathways Consultants
510.325.6959
1 comment:
Thanks for the post on this topic. The Center for Credentialing and Education describes the competencies behind the Global Career Development Facilitator certificate, and they are the same as the NCDA competencies you link to. http://www.cce-global.org/GCDF/CoreComp. CCE also describes several other international, competency-based certificates of relevance to workforce development.
A question becomes, which of these competencies and certifications are recognized in the field, and where is there opportunity to disseminate them more broadly?
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