CDC Board of Standards®
The CDC Board of Standards® is established to develop, promulgate, improve, and maintain uniform standards of conduct for CDC Certified Divorce Coach®certificants for the benefit and protection of the general public.
The Board works toward reaching its mission through 4 core objectives:
CREDENTIALING
EDUCATION
ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNICATION
Standards of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for CDC Certified Divorce Coach®certificants.
Integrity
Provide professional services with integrity.
Integrity demands honesty and candor, which must not be subordinated to personal gain and advantage. Coaches are placed in positions of trust by clients, and the ultimate source of that trust is the coach’s personal integrity. Allowance can be made for innocent error and legitimate differences of opinion, but integrity cannot co-exist with subordination of one’s principles.
Competence
Maintain the knowledge and skill necessary to provide professional services competently.
Competence means attaining and maintaining an adequate level of knowledge and skill, and application of that knowledge and skill in providing services to clients. Competence also includes the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and when consultation with other professionals is appropriate or referral to other professionals necessary. Coaches make a continuing commitment to learning and professional improvement.
Fairness
Be fair and reasonable in all professional relationships. Disclose conflicts of interest.
Fairness requires intellectual honesty and disclosure of material conflicts of interest. It involves a subordination of one’s own feelings, prejudices and desires to the needs of the client. Fairness is treating others in the same fashion that you would want to be treated.
Confidentiality
Protect the confidentiality of all client information.
Confidentiality means ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have access. A relationship of trust and confidence with the client can only be built upon the understanding that the client’s information will remain confidential.
Professionalism
Act in a manner that demonstrates exemplary professional conduct.
Professionalism requires behaving with dignity and courtesy to clients, fellow professionals, and others in related activities. Coaches cooperate with fellow coaches to enhance and maintain the profession’s public image and improve the quality of services.
Good Moral Character
Advertising
A divorce coach will not engage in false advertising.
A coach will ensure that any advertisements of the coach’s qualifications, services to be rendered, or the coaching process are accurate and honest.
Continuing Education Requirements:
The Board requires 16 hours of CCE (continuing coach education) and will accept hours form a variety of sources (e.g., CCE, CME, CLE, other Board approved CE, etc.).
One of the important aspects of CDC Certified Divorce Coach® is that Coaches must adhere to the Standards of Ethics and Professional Responsibility outlined above. In the spirit of protecting the public, the Standards Board has partnered with the interests of the public and instituted a grievance procedure.