PSP Certification

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During April 2012, 34 individuals representing 20 states. met the eligibility requirements to take the pilot national examiniation. The tests results were reviewed and analyzed by the psychometricians and the Passing Score Study Panel of Subject Matter experts the first week of May. The report of the findings and recommendations are now being reviewed by the Certfication Commission who will set the actual passing score and authorize the use of Certified Parent Support Provider credential.

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As of April 26, 2012, The Certification Commission is official! The first three appointees are:

Kathleen Ferreira PhD, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Conni Wells, Axis Group, Butler, Tennessee

Vee Boyd, Louisiana Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Also serving on the Commission as non-voting members is a representative of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health Board of Directors and the Director or staff of the Commission. Two persons will be added to the Commission. One who has expertise with legal procedures and complaint investigations and one who has expertise with financial oversight and business management. The staff of the Commission is Frances Purdy.

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The 2012 Pilot Exam application is now available for download. The Pilot Exam will be available during all of April at the computer-based testing site of PearsonVUE. The passing score will be determined in early May by the Passing-Score Study Panel of Subject Matter Experts (chosen from people currently practicing in family-run organizations). Then the examination will be available again through the same computer-based testing firm in June or July 2012. IF YOU APPLIED IN NOVEMBER, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND IN ANOTHER APPLICATION. Otherwise, you have until April 13, 2012 to turn in an application. And as always, call or e-mail the certification office, if you have questions.

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The National Federation staff is analyzing the feedback we have received from comments and suggestions during the 2011 Annual Conference, survey results, e-mails, and telephone calls. Some of the feedback is from those that began or actually submitted an application and much of the information comes from potential applicants, those of you doing the work, currently. We really thank you for taking the time to tell us your impressions, concerns, and ideas for the modification of the application and certification process. Once the analysis is complete, the application will be redone and the handbook amended. Then we will offer webinars and individual help to be able to complete the application to determine eligibility to take the test later in Spring 2012. The certification is progressing and we welcome your continuing concerns and suggestions.

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The “pilot examination” scheduled for November 17, 2011 was cancelled because the response was not enough in number or diversity compared to what was needed for a good representative sample of the field. It is clear that the short time for responses and the testing site (only in DC during the conference) were major explanations for who did not apply. We will be studying the other factors before preparing another application form and booklet. Next round will certainly allow for more time to complete the application for the “pilot exam” and totally open-ended time period for taking the regular exam. Keep giving us your feedback, though. Only when you tell us your concerns, can you be certain that we have heard them!

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The final test information is now complete for the first testing session on November 17, 2011 at the National Conference of the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. The application kit will be on-line on October 10, 2011. Once the completed application is received, the Certification Commission will notify each applicant if they are qualified to take the test and the possible testing dates and site. The application kit will include forms to provide:

1. Demographic information signed by the applicant,

2. Information documenting the minimum 80 hours of training related to the competencies,

3. Information documenting “lived experience”,

4. Documentation of the minimum 1000 hours of experience (paid or unpaid) in the previous 5 years,

5. Information about any criminal background or child protection services involvement and, if applicable, any post involvement rehabilitation,

6. Agreement to abide by the Code of Ethics,

7. Documentation of past and future supervision/consultation with another Parent Support Provider (or other local title),

8. Acknowledgement about requirements to maintain certification,

10. Payment of fee for two years of certification, $350, and

11. (Optional) Completion of request for partial scholarship for certification fee.

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Magellan Health Services provides 31 scholarships for

the Certified Parent Support Provider™certification

fees!

The request form for these scholarships is included in the application kit for certification. Look for it to arrive on October 10, 2011.

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The competencies for Certified Parent Support Providers is now in final form as of 7/22/11. Please use the Self-Assessment checklist to identify your own preparation level. Self-Assessment Training Checklist.

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July 27-29, 2011, a group of Parent Support Provider peers (with direction from a psychometrician) will begin writing test questions for the national Certified Parent Support Provider™ test. The National Federation’s library will be used as a resource. It includes publications of research, theory and programs. It also includes many papers presented at conferences. We want to consider all important information so IF YOU HAVE A REFERENCE YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE A SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS, please either send it or the citation to the certification@ffcmh.org asap. This will bring it to our attention or mark it as important.

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The Subject Matter Committee, consisting of 14 Parent Support Providers, met June 1-3 to identify the job duties and tasks of a Certified Parent Support Provider™. The people involved were: Kris Anderson from Oregon, Nelson Rascon from Washington, Donna Espinola-Rooney from New Hampshire, Sandi Yandow from Vermont, Anne Kuppinger from New York, Sharon Smith from Pennsylvania, Malisa Pearson from Michigan, Shannon Crossbear from Minnesota, Jane Kallal fro Arizona, Bettie Jordan from Arizona, Sheila Wall-Hill from North Carolina, Millie Sweeney from Tennessee and the Certification Commission staff, Frances Purdy (with experience from Alaska) and Corey Brown from Washington DC. The job duties did line up with the competencies published in January. There is still a survey to determine actual percentage of time spent on each task. Look for that in your e-mail in the next two weeks.

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The Code of Ethics is available in draft for comment PSP CODE OF ETHICS. Send your comments by August 1, 2011 by e-mail certification@ffcmh.org , fax 240.403.1909 or regular mail 9605 Medical Center Drive #280 Rockville, MD 20850.

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In December 2010, the Certification Commission sent out a survey to see whether we had consensus on the core competencies of Parent Support Providers. The survey was open through January 2011. Every state responded to the survey (plus Guam and some Canadians).

For all the competencies listed, only nine items were identified as “not needed by more than 10% of those resoponding. Many who responded “not needed” also suggested clarification rather an absolute lack of need. For example, in domain 10 entitled “Wellness and Natural Support” there is one competence of needing to be “Knowledgeable about Community Organizing”. The clarification offered was that there is a need for the Parent Support Provider to know about how to organize parents or an issue of concern to parents but not the general field of community organizing. That feedback was really useful and will assist the Subject Matter Expert Committee address that skill set rather than the general skills of community organizing.

You can review the competencies as they were in the survey. Just to remind you of the next step….The Subject Matter Expert Committee weighing the importance of each of these competencies based on the amount of use each has in the day to day practice. And probably another survey out “to the field” to make sure we do have consensus!

More details coming soon!

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