FIRST NATIONS WELLNESS/ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR CERTIFICATION BOARD

Transcription

1 FIRST NATIONS WELLNESS/ADDICTIONS COUNSELLOR CERTIFICATION BOARD FNWACCB is the nationally designated body specifically created to certify First Nations, Inuit and Metis wellness and addictions practitioners

2 OUR HISTORY 25 years struggling to have our ways acknowledged Incorporated as a non-profit organization in BC in 2005 Incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act February 14, Governed exclusively by a First Nations national Board of Directors.

3 OUR MISSION To provide professional certification, accredit training and education programs that honour traditional Indigenous culture and healing philosophies, leading to a more highly skilled and effective workforce serving Indigenous people

4 OUR VISION Indigenous communities will benefit from an abundance of valued, professionally certified and culturally competent workers, leading to healthy families and communities

5 WHAT DO WE DO? Provide a specialized process for certifying Aboriginal wellness & addictions workers Ensure that Indigenous peoples culture, traditions and healing philosophies are a core element Ensure that our certification and training accreditation standards meet or exceed standards in Canada and internationally.

6 FNWACCB STAKEHOLDERS FNWACCB-certified First Nations* practitioners in wellness and addictions. Colleges, agencies and trainers with FNWACCBaccredited training programs * Includes First Nations, Metis and Inuit practitioners

7 FNWACCB NETWORK Enhances the relevance of our certification, access to training, training accreditation, standards development and exam development services. FNIHB - NNADAP treatment centres network - NNAPF - YSAC - FNQLHSSC - Regional Addictions Commitees - Colleges, Agencies and trainers with FNWACCBaccredited training -

8 WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?

9 WHY A FIRST NATIONS CERTIFICATION? Necessary because of the recognition that unique skills and knowledge related to culture and traditional healing are needed to work effectively within First Nations communities.

10 VALUE OF FNWACCB CERTIFICATION We provide a measure of competence recognized nationally and internationally. Our professional certification of wellness and addictions practitioners constitutes an important step to ensure the recognition and development of First Nations wellness and addictions programs.

11 VALUE-ADDED CREDENTIALS Our standards for certification are compliant with those of other Canadian and international certification boards They exceed these standards in regard to cultural competence (knowledge, skills, professionalism)

12 BOTTOM LINE: OUR FIRST NATIONS CLIENTS FNWACCB certification ensures that the level of services provided to individual First Nations clients, families and communities by our certified professionals meet the highest standards of practice.

13 A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE FNWACCB certification responds to the need of First Nations employers to hire workers who possess professional qualifications and competencies that have been assessed according to culturally relevant professional standards.

14 A COMPETENT WORKFORCE FNWACCB recognizes that when informal and on-the-job training are combined with academic course work, First Nations wellness and addiction practitioners have the most relevant qualifications and competencies to work effectively with their sisters and brothers who suffer from addictions.

15 A COMPETENT WORKFORCE 88% felt that certification has given them professional self-confidence 95% felt, that after obtaining their certification, they were motivated to achieve higher levels of professional competency

16 A COMPETENT WORKFORCE 88% felt that they had acquired a better understanding of the standards and requirements needed for the practice of their profession 88% felt they now performed their responsibilities with enhanced professionalism

17 FNWACCB SERVICES Credentialing services Advisory services Accreditation of training courses/programs.

18 FNWACCB SERVICES Development of certification standards for new occupations in a continuum of care Development of culturally appropriate examinations Collaborating with NNAPF to implement the workforce development component of the NNADAP renewed framework.

19 1. CREDENTIALING SERVICES Certification Recertification Certification Upgrade Certification Transfer Certification Switch.

20 CURRENT FNWACCB CREDENTIALS Certified Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Workers (CIWAW) Indigenous Certified Addictions Specialists (ICAS) - Level I, II, II and IV- Clinical Supervisors Indigenous Certified Prevention Workers (ICPW) Indigenous Certified Prevention Specialists (ICPS)

21 A FEW CERTIFICATION STATISTICS Certified Indigenous Wellness and Addictions Workers (CIWAW) Indigenous Certified Addictions Specialists (ICAS) - Level I, II, II and IV- Clinical Supervisors Indigenous Certified Prevention Workers (ICPW) Indigenous Certified Prevention Specialists (ICPS)

22 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Years of work experience Education level Core knowledge in addictions/wellness Knowledge and skills in professional core functions Training on topics related to the certification field Other competencies

23 OTHER CERTIFICATION CONSIDERATIONS Supervisor s Evaluation Score Referees Evaluations Adherence to FNWACCB s Code of Ethics Wellness Plan Employer s letter of declaration regarding criminal record checks

24 OTHER REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES Sensitivity, awareness and cultural competence Knowledgeable about Indigenous holistic healing philosophy and approaches Knowledgeable about First Nations history and the impact of colonization on First Nations people

25 UPCOMING CERTIFICATIONS Certified Addictions Expert Level This new certification will allow Indigenous Certified Addictions Specialists at level III to add a specialization to their credential. Examples of specializations: - Mental Health FASD HIV/AIDS Tobacco

26 UPCOMING CERTIFICATIONS Community Development Workers and Specialists This new certification would provide credentials to those in occupations related to First Nations Community and Social Development, focusing on the planning, development, evaluation and administration of social/health care services within the Aboriginal community.

27 ON THE DRAWING BOARD Community Support Workers and Specialists This new certification would provide credentials to those in the range of occupations related to the promotion of wellness at community, family and individual level. e.g: Community support worker, community outreach worker, community health representative, family outreach worker, family support worker, home support worker, health care aides

28 2. CONSULTATION SERVICES Training needs Academic agencies training programs Job description development Collaborating on development of new training courses

29 CONSULTATION SERVICES Collaborating on work development issues with partners Consulting with workers in the field on exam Consulting with workers in the field for standards development for new occupations Fostering partnerships through our networking capacity

30 3. TRAINING PROGRAMS ACCREDITATION Training must match our certification standards and requirements in regard to education/training and cultural competency/relevance. Accreditation of programs includes trainer registration to ensure the seamless implementation of culturally competent and culturally safe training programs that maximize First Nations learners success.

31 ADVANTAGES OF PROGRAM ACCREDITATION Better access to training appropriate to the culture and the professional needs of First Nations practitioners Promote First Nations education approaches

32 ADVANTAGES OF PROGRAM ACCREDITATION Enhance the success of First Nations students by ensuring their needs in regard to cultural safety are respected Collaborate with First Nations educational institutions so that their programs lead to the professional certification of their graduates

33 PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE ACCREDITED College Programs Certificates and Diplomas Training conferences (NNADAP and others) Training offered by organizations in the field Private training companies & consultant groups Training developers Training offered by independant trainers/facilitators

34 4. CERTIFICATION STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT Occupational analysis process with workers in the field Identifies: - core functions - certification standards and requirements - Training available or that needs be developed to acquire necessary knowledge and skills Development of the new certification documents:

35 5. FNWACCB EXAMINATION Current exams from other credentialing bodies not reflective of First Nations unique knowledge, experience, practices in addictions recovery and healing. Other exams are often biased against minority populations

36 HOW DOES OUR EXAM DIFFER FROM OTHERS? Designed specifically for First Nations wellness and addictions workers Offered in French or English Validated by First Nations professionals

37 HOW DOES OUR EXAM DIFFER FROM OTHERS? Every component of this exam is infused with culturally relevant material Has a specific First Nations issues component Contains an oral component

38 FNWACCB EXAM CONTENT FNWACCB exam content - Professional content component - Cultural component - Study guides

39 FNWACB CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION Content Areas a. Pharmacology b. Counselling Practice & Theory c. Professional Issues (Ethics; Law) d. First Nations Culture & Healing Issues

40 ETHICAL CASE STUDY HANDOUT

41 FNWACB CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION Content Areas a. Pharmacology b. Counselling Practice & Theory c. Professional Issues (Ethics; Law) d. First Nations Culture & Healing Issues

42 6. NNADAP CONTINUUM OF CARE FRAMEWORK A Renewed Framework to Address Substance Use Issues Among First Nations People in Canada

43 FNWACCB AND NNADAP FNWACCB is committed to supporting the system of care as outlined in the Renewed Framework and to contribute to its Workforce Development component related to education, training and professional certification

44 FNWACCB ROLE IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Key components of an effective approach to workforce development promoted by NNADAP and supported by FNWACCB include*: Cultural Knowledge and Skills Education and Training Worker Certification Personal Wellness *

45 FNWACCB THE DIFFERENCE Standards developed with First Nations input The ONLY national body created to certify First Nations wellness professionals Governed by a First Nations Board of Directors Mandate & vision are solely to serve First Nations

46 "Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures " United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article 31

47 CONTACT FNWACCB # East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z8 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) Toll Free: