About Staff Development
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Goals
Those of us who work in the unique world of Community Futures organizations come to our jobs with a wide variety of experience, skills, and knowledge. This kind of diversity keeps us strong but there are skills and knowledge that are required so that all Community Futures organizations can live up to the promise of excellence.
The Community Futures Staff Development program is designed around the competencies required for each of the four main Community Futures positions: General Manager, Business Analyst, Community Economic Development Coordinator, and Administrative Coordinator. The program consists of two levels of certification: Basic Certification and Community Futures Designation.
Community Futures Staff Development is an initiative of the Community Futures Pan West Network. The goals of the Staff Development program are to:
- Build capacity and help ensure that all Community Futures organizations have the tools to live up to the promise of excellence.
- Encourage staff and managers to gain and build on the skills and knowledge that are needed for individuals who work in the unique world of Community Futures.
- Help promising staff plan for the training they will need to become leaders and managers in Community Futures organizations.
- Provide Boards with a measure of competency to use when selecting new managers.
- Enhance the image of the Community Futures program and of staff and managers as strong, competent professionals.
- Provide a framework for training.
Achieving Certification
The Staff Development program is a certification program based around competencies - the skills, knowledge, and values you need to do your job effectively - for General Managers, Business Analysts, CED Coordinators, and Administrative Coordinators. For more details please click here.
There are two levels of certification:
- Basic Certification – for individuals who have worked at a Community Futures organization for at least one year. Application for Basic Certification requires a generally positive performance evaluation, a letter of support from your supervisor, and evidence of either education/training or experience in each of the competencies required for your position. Basic Certification is achieved through a self-assessment designed around basic competencies.
- Community Futures Designation – for individuals who have already achieved Basic Certification and who have worked at a Community Futures organization for several years. Application for a Community Futures Designation requires letters of support from three Community Futures peers, a letter of support from your supervisor, and demonstration of extensive experience and evidence of education/training in each of the competency areas for their position. The Community Futures Designation is designed around advanced competency areas and is achieved through a portfolio demonstrating that applicants have used their skills, knowledge and values to make a difference in their Community Futures organizations and in their communities.
You must achieve and maintain Basic Certification before you can apply for a Community Futures Designation.
Maintaining Certification
Individuals are required to apply to maintain their Basic Certification every two years. In order to maintain Basic Certification, you must accomplish 3 activities from the list below:
- Complete a course leading to a Community Futures Designation – any position
- Participate or host a peer review audit
- Attend a Community Futures conference or Annual General Meeting
- Actively participate in a provincial Community Futures Association by sitting on a board, committee, or sub-committee
- Actively participate in another provincial or national economic development organization
- Develop a best practice (e.g. create a training tool, web site, or manual that is used by other Community Futures organizations)
- Participate in a documented mentorship arrangement
- Speak at a conference
- Deliver training outside of your Community Futures area
- Publish an article that increases Community Futures skills or knowledge
Training Courses
The Community Futures Pan West Network plans to develop a series of training courses that will assist staff and mangers to achieve a Community Futures Designation. These courses will be based on the advanced competencies required for a Community Futures Designation.
Contact by email: professionaldev@telus.net
