Search ViaHope

Family Partner Training and Certification

Home  |  What We Do  |  Certified Family Partner Program  |  Family Partner Training and Certification

Family Partner Training and Certification

Via Hope operates the only statewide training and certification program for family partners that is recognized by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Via Hope trains and certifies Family Partners in the state of Texas. A Certified Family Partner (CFP) is a parent or guardian who has lived experience raising a child with mental or emotional challenges and who has learned to successfully navigate the systems of care.

The Certified Family Partner (CFP) is trained to use this experience to help other parents experiencing these issues. CFPs are formal members of recovery (treatment) teams.

Currently, most Certified Family Partners work in community mental health centers, although their skills are used in many other settings such as public and private hospitals, juvenile justice centers, residential treatment centers, and many types of child serving organizations.

The Training

CFP TrainingThe Certified Family Partner (CFP) course is an intensive 3-day training. The certification training is available on the Certified Family Partner Application page. For the convenience of the participants, a certification exam is administered the last afternoon after training is completed. The certification exam is to ensure the family partner has the minimal competency skills to execute their responsibilities. It examines the application of the skills learned in the training, but does not test training recall.

Participants must successfully complete both to receive their certification. The curriculum used was originally developed by Texas stakeholders and Via Hope staff in 2011, based on resources from several other states. At this time the training is only offered in English. Efforts are underway to obtain funding to develop a Spanish language training.

Once certified, family partners must earn at least 20 CEUs every two years to maintain their certification. The recertification form is available on the Certified Family Partner Recertification Application page. CEUs are available from our endorsement trainings listed near the bottom of this page.

Advanced and Master Certification Levels

CFP TrainersOnce certified for four or more years CFPs may be eligible for Advanced (4 or more years) or Master (6 or more years) level certification. These levels require some leadership experience, letters of recommendation, and a supervisory endorsement form, as described in the CFP Level Applications. Via Hope has no authority over the effect of the levels on salary or job requirements; this will be at the discretion of the agencies where CFPs are employed.

Policy and Procedures Manual: The program is administered according to the policies and procedures in the Certified Family Partner’s Policy and Procedure Manual.

Via Hope works to give voice to, and promote recovery and resiliency within, families of children with mental health diagnoses. Via Hope works to raise awareness and reduce discrimination around mental health in schools, faith communities, state agencies, and communities.

To learn more about the Certified Family Partner Training and Certification program, contact Family Partner Coordinator, Christianna Hale at Christianna.Hale@viahope.org

For a list of upcoming CFP basic and other CFP-related trainings, please visit our events calendar.

Via Hope Endoresment Training for CFPs

In addition to the basic certification training, Via Hope offers: