Benefits of Becoming
a Certified Positive Discipline Associate
(CPDA)
Annual Think Tank
A special conference, "Think Tank," for Certified Positive Discipline Associates (CPDAs) and Positive Discipline Associates in Training (PDAITs) is scheduled once a year, typically in July. Think Tank affords an opportunity for in-depth, face-to-face networking with other CPDAs and PDAITs --- professionals committed to expanding the vision of Positive Discipline in the world.
Think Tank is a three day get-together designed to review core concepts; share new ideas, new activities, and adaptations of old activities; review and update workshop outlines for quality assurance; work in small groups on ways to improve and spread Positive Discipline; as well as network, inspire and encourage each other. It is an exciting, rejuvenating and highly valued event.
Only the CPDAs and PDAITS who are clearly on their way to being certified are invited to attend. This is one of the benefits of your membership. The only cost to CPDAs is their own expenses plus a small registration fee to cover event planning and administration. To remain active as a CPDA, it is required that you attend a Think Tank at least every other year. (If this is difficult or impossible for you, you are asked to work with the Training and Assessment Committee to develop an alternative plan for staying current with PD information.) Most of our membership want to attend every year when at all possible.
The eligibility requirements for PDAITs to attend Think Tank are:
- Must have submitted the letter of intent.
- Must have paid their annual membership dues.
- Attended a two-day Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way or Positive Discipline in the Classroom workshop.
- Scheduled or held at least one of the seven-week parent training series (or the classroom work) required to move forward towards certification.
The CPDA Email List
There are two email lists. One list is for any individual or organization that is interested in Positive Discipline, including people who have taken the two-day workshops but have not committed to the certification process. This list is used to ask questions and share information that would be of interest to all these people.
CPDAs and PDAITs use another list for information that is pertinent to training and Think Tank issues. It is an incredible resource for members involved in training with the Positive Discipline model. You may bring forward questions, issues or recommendations for feedback from other members. It's an excellent resource for on-going education and support.
You will be given information on how to subscribe to these lists when we receive your Request to Become a Certified Positive Discipline Associate (CPDA) and dues, and you are approved as a PDAIT.
Marketing CD
Upon membership in the Positive Discipline Association, you will receive the CPDA Facilitator's Training Manual and may purchase the Positive Discipline Marketing Manual and CD. The Marketing CD includes modifiable flyers, workshop posters, information on creating a business plan, the PDA logo, layout for business cards and stationery, core pieces for a fabulous folder for PDC (including a 3-fold brochure that can be modified to include your personal information), name tags with the logo, certificates with the logo, and several PowerPoint programs. The information and professional graphic designs would cost you thousands of dollars to create yourself. For purchasing information and cost, please contact the Positive Discipline Association office.
Workshops
When a CPDA leads a two-day Positive Discipline in the Classroom or Teaching Parenting workshop for the Association, the Positive Discipline Association will handle the registrations and provide the CPDA with a list of the registrants and their contact information. The PDA will charge $70 of each registration fee for this service. The CPDA must provide and pay for all of the other services that come with holding a workshop (location, rent, books and supplies, name tags, certificates, etc.) and will keep any profits after expenses. A copy of the roster and all evaluations must be submitted to the PDA office for the purposes of reconciliation, documentation and quality assurance.
Possible Client Referrals and Speaker's Bureau
Sometimes we receive requests from organizations for both workshops and lectures. To be eligible to fill these requests, a CPDA must first be approved by our Speaker's Bureau Committee This is done by sending four copies of a short video or DVD to the PDA office, who will then pass it on to the committee that reviews/approves applications for the Speakers Bureau. If you are approved, you will then have your picture and bio placed on the website under Speakers; referrals will be made based on geographic location and "best match" with the needs and focus of our client. The PDA requests a percentage of this fee be paid to the organization for this referral. Please refer to Section 1.6.6 of the Facilitator's Manual for more details.
Personal Growth
Our experience is that being involved with and teaching Positive Discipline is not only life changing for the people you teach but also positively impacts your own personal and professional life.