Family Development Credential Program (FDC) - DYCD

Department of Youth & Community Development


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EO - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Transportation Program

Family Development Credential Program

Capacity Building & Professional Development

Discretionary Contracts

CBO Financial Services

Contracting Opportunities

EO - Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act


Family Development Credential Program (FDC)

The Family Development Credential Program (FDC) is a New York State professional development training that provides frontline staff with the skills and competencies they need to empower families. FDC-trained staff help families capitalize on their strengths and set attainable goals.

The FDC curriculum, developed by the National FDC Program at the University of Connecticut, consists of approximately 90 hours of intensive, interactive classroom study. The curriculum has been revised for 2015, to include the following new and updated modules:

Family Development: A Sustainable Route to Healthy Self Reliance

Communicating with Skill and Heart

Presence and Mindfulness: Cornerstones of Healthy Relationships

Taking Good Care of Yourself

Our Diverse World

Strengths-based Assessment

Helping Families Set and Reach their Goals

Helping Families Access Specialized Services

Home Visiting

Collaboration and Community Support

There is also an additional 10 hours of small group instruction in portfolio development. Each student develops a portfolio that applies FDC concepts to their everyday work experience. With regular attendance, a satisfactory portfolio, and a passing grade on the New York State credential exam, workers can earn a Family Development Credential and college credits.

DYCD offers competitive scholarships to selected frontline staff, supervisors, managers and directors of DYCD funded and other community-based organizations, non-profits, and City agencies located in any of the 42 Neighborhood Development Areas (NDA's) throughout New York City. Pending student enrollment, classes are held each spring and fall at City University of New York (CUNY) campuses and off-site campus locations. There are no formal educational requirements for the program. However, students must be able to read and comprehend the curriculum, which is written in English at the 9th grade level, and possess the writing skills needed to complete the portfolio and other assignments.

FDC for Leaders

The FDC for Leaders is a New York State professional development training for supervisors, managers and directors developed by the National FDC Program at the University of Connecticut. The program is based on family development principles, with an emphasis on empowerment-based leadership.

The FDC for Leaders curriculum consists of 42 hours of intensive, interactive classroom study, facilitated by a certified instructor. The topic areas are as follows:

The Family Development Credential and the Empowered Workplace

Transforming Your Workplace through Empowerment-based Leadership

Leadership and Self-Empowerment

Supervising with Skill and Heart

Cultural Competence

With regular attendance and approval of a satisfactory portfolio, supervisors can earn a Leadership Credential.

The development of the Leadership portfolio helps supervisors demonstrate in writing how their knowledge and understanding of the curriculum will be used to benefit and support their professional practice.

DYCD offers competitive scholarships for supervisors, managers and directors of DYCD funded and other community-based organizations, non-profits or designated City agencies located in any of the 42 Neighborhood Development Areas (NDA's) throughout New York City. Classes are held each spring and fall at select City University of New York (CUNY) campuses.

For more information on either type of Family Development Credential Program, or upcoming classes, please contact Rhodesia Humphrey, Capacity Building Deputy Director, at 646-343-6224.

Fill out the Online FDC Scholarship Application