Children First Staff Earn National Family Development Credential

Children First, the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, is proud to announce that four employees have completed the rigorous process of earning the National Family Development Credential (FDC) awarded through the University of Connecticut.
 
The Family Development Credential (FDC), established in 1994, prepares frontline workers to coach families in setting and achieving goals for healthy self-reliance. To earn the credential, participants complete 90 hours of training, develop a portfolio demonstrating their skills, and pass a comprehensive exam.
By equipping Advocates to better support parents’ goals and stability, this training helps strengthen family well-being and contributes to children’s school readiness and long-term success. All Children First Family Advocates now hold this important credential, with supervisors and family strengthening staff also encouraged to take part in this opportunity.
 
This year’s graduates include four Children First Family Advocates: Elena Hawley, Laura Swift, Katiuska Reyes, and Mihaela Tessmer, along with Jasmine Tart of partner agency Step Up Suncoast. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening families across the region.
Portfolio Advisors who supported the graduates include Bailee Faulkner, Elaine Bellamy, Syraida Maldonado, Jennifer Kinney, and Awilda Vasquez. The course was facilitated by Maria Buitrago, Children First Family Advocate Coach, who holds the Family Development Leadership Credential from the University of Connecticut. Credentials were awarded during Children First’s annual preservice training.
 
About Children First:
Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of over 1,600 Head Starts nationwide, Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being. At multiple sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance to children ages birth to five years old from low-income families. Through Children First, the children receive the social and cognitive skills needed to enter kindergarten and elementary school on track. For more information, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.
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