Union-Snyder Community Action Agency provides the Leadership in Strength Based Family Workers (LSFW)   course for family support supervisors and leaders interested in empowerment-based leadership and teamwork.  LSFW helps organizations to effectively refine and/or implement strength based practices, procedures and relationships with families, staff and community partners.

 

The LSFW course is a component of the college credit Strength Based Family Workers (SFW) credentialing program. To date, 8 supervisors have earned the LSFW credential, and 60 workers have earned the SFW credential in the Union-Snyder-Mifflin-Northumberland area.  Participating organizations include SUM Child Development, CSIU, CMSU, Nurse Family Partnership, Union County Children and Youth, Snyder County Children and Youth, Transitions, Union-Snyder Community Action, CORE Susquehanna AmeriCorps, United Way of Mifflin-Juniata, TIU, Middlecreek Area Community Center, Gaudenzia Counseling, and Brookside Ministries.

 

Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, the local lead affiliate for the training, provides this strength based training in conjunction with the Integrated Family Services Council and Snyder County Children and Youth, sponsored in part by the PA Court system. The state and national coordinator is Temple University, Harrisburg.

 

Core Competencies of Strength Based Family Work:

1.    Workers organize personal and professional attitudes, beliefs and knowledge around the principles and practices of strengths based family development theory.

2.   Workers recognize strength in diversity and difference and demonstrate sensitivity in practice

3.   Workers understand and utilize the power of clear, non-judgmental communication

4.   Workers apply strengths based family development principles to practice.

This includes all areas of the Effective Help Giving Cycle:

• Establish mutually respectful relationships with those seeking help and with colleagues.

• Assist in information gathering and assessment of conditions, needs and resources.

• Mutually develop goals and plans with specific action steps

• Identify available services and resources

• Support families in accessing resources and implementing actions identified in the plan.

• Identify and document results and progress toward results.

• Applies principles to family, agency and community systems:

• Understands both positive and negative effects of systems on families

• Collaborates, cooperates and intervenes at the appropriate levels in family, agency and community systems.

• Applies family development principles to interactions with colleagues and others

5.   Workers demonstrate professionalism, commitment to ethical practice, and to self care. They engage in critical reflection to analyze situations and interactions.

 

Session Schedule and Cost:

The 46 hour interactive and hands on course will be held over a 4 month period at the Snyder County East Building, 713 Bridge Street, Selinsgrove.  The cost is $500 which includes the credential fee and the textbook “Empowerment Skills for Leaders”. Participants may earn 4.0 CEUS and 40 Act 48 contact hours, through Temple University Harrisburg.

 

How to apply to the Leadership in Strengths-Based Family:

Work Training Program at Union-Snyder CAA.To register for the course, send a check for $500 to Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, LSFW, 713 Bridge Street, Suite 10, Selinsgrove, PA. 17870. Include your name, organization, and contact information (address, phone, email). For more information, contact Robin Barbour at rbarbour@union-snydercaa.org