Rule 105-3-.05 - Certification Requirements for Family Violence Intervention Program Facilitators(1) Initial Facilitator Certification Requirements. (a) Facilitator Training Requirements. Applicants shall provide proof of completing the following training requirements within three (3) years of applying for certification: 1. Completion of twenty (20) hours of Commission delivered facilitator training; i. Applicants must attend "FVIP Basics," a six (6) hour training, prior to beginning all other training requirements and class participation requirements. The remaining fourteen (14) hours of Commission delivered training may be completed in conjunction with the additional training requirements.2. Completion of forty (40) hours of Commission-approved training. These training hours must be pre-approved by the Commission.3. Completion of forty (40) hours of participation in community education and victim advocacy. i. Fifteen (15) of these forty (40) hours must be spent participating in the Community Task Force on Family Violence or other coordinated community response to domestic violence. If no such body exists, the applicant shall attend other family violence community meetings for this requirement or may request from the Commission that these hours be met through domestic violence court observations, law enforcement ride-alongs, or volunteering with a domestic violence advocacy program. The remaining hours may be comprised of domestic violence court observations, law enforcement ride-alongs, or volunteering with a domestic violence advocacy program;(b) FVIP Class Participation Requirements. Applicants shall provide proof of completing the following participation requirements within three (3) years of applying for certification.1. Thirty-six (36) hours as a participant observer in a certified FVIP. A facilitator trainee may participate in an FVIP class after completing six (6) hours of training as outlined in 105-3-.05(1)(a)(1)(i) and only with a certified facilitator.2. Thirty-six (36) hours of direct face-to-face contact as a facilitator trainee with a certified facilitator. A facilitator trainee may have direct face-to-face contact as a facilitator trainee after completing requirements outlined in 105-3-.05(1)(a)(1)(i) and 105-3-.05(1)(b)(1).(c) Recommendation Letter. Applicants shall submit a letter of recommendation from the certified facilitator with whom the applicant completed their direct face-to-face facilitator trainee hours.(d) Facilitator Educational Requirements. Facilitators must have a four (4) year college degree or two years of experience as a group facilitator, instructor or counselor.(e) Principles of Practice. Each facilitator trainee and certified facilitator shall adhere to the following Principles of Practice, submit a signed copy of the Principles of Practice upon certification and recertification and prominently display them in the program facility in which they are facilitating.1. FVIP providers are advocates for victims of family and domestic violence who work to hold participants accountable for their acts of family and domestic violence. The highest priorities of FVIP providers are the safety, rights, and confidentiality of victims.2. FVIP providers advocate that offenders of family and domestic violence be held accountable. FVIP providers should never collude with participants, minimize, tolerate or justify abusive and unacceptable behavior.3. FVIP providers consult with victim advocates to ensure quality programming.4. FVIP providers consistently act and communicate in ways that do not perpetuate discriminatory behavior, attitudes, or bias. FVIP providers treat all with dignity.5. FVIP providers are not advocates or legal witnesses on behalf of participants and shall use caution when responding to requests for assessments, impressions, opinions, information, or testimony. FVIP providers will not state or imply that program completion will result in non-abusive behaviors or victim safety.6. Anger management programs, couples counseling, and psychotherapy are not appropriate interventions for family and domestic violence and may place the victim at heightened risk. Ending violence and abuse and ensuring victim safety takes precedence over efforts to save relationships.7. Educational group sessions must be the primary approach to family and domestic violence intervention. Substance abuse treatment, addictions treatment, and individual treatment are not appropriate interventions for family and domestic violence. However, providers may find participants benefit from these interventions separately, but only in addition to participation in an FVIP.8. FVIPs alone do not create accountability. FVIP providers collaborate with community partners and participate in a larger coordinated community response to family and domestic violence.(f) Code of Ethics. Each facilitator trainee and certified facilitator shall adhere to the following Code of Ethics and submit a signed copy upon certification and recertification.1. I will make victim safety my first priority in working with participants who engage in acts of family or domestic violence. I will make participant accountability my second priority.2. I will collaborate with domestic violence victim advocates to design and inform my FVIP work to ensure quality programming.3. I will provide truthful, accurate, and complete statements to the criminal justice system, victim liaisons, the Department, the Commission, and other community partners.4. I will report to the referring agency and victim liaison any recent additional acts of family or domestic violence admitted to by an FVIP participant, when such reporting will not further endanger the victim or witness. Through consultation with the victim liaison, I will report to all appropriate legal authorities any suspected neglect and/or abuse of a child or protected adult.5. I will report to the Commission any violations of the Rules for Family Violence Intervention Programs that I observe while certified as an FVIP facilitator.6. I will conduct myself in my personal and professional life in a manner consistent with the principles of nonviolence and I will abide by a drug-free lifestyle. I will immediately disclose to my direct supervisor and the Commission if I commit, am arrested for, or have been convicted of any misdemeanor or felony crime.7. I will avoid personal, professional, or business relationships that conflict with the interest of the FVIP and those it serves. I will not accept gifts, services, or benefits that impair my integrity, the integrity of the agency, or might invite special considerations.8. I will avoid the appearance of impropriety. I will not engage in any behavior that I would be unwilling to disclose fully to my colleagues, legal authorities, and the public. I will not engage in sexual or romantic activities with participants, victims, or their family members for at least two (2) years after our last professional contact. Even at that time, I will not engage in such behaviors that could reasonably contribute to the suffering of any person(s) or the impairment of the FVIP efforts.9. I will fully explain all program rules and policies, fee payment, enrollment, program standards, discharge, and completion requirements to participants. I will consistently apply program rules to all participants.10. I will treat all program participants and the victims of their violence fairly. I will not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, class, age, religion, educational attainment, ethnicity, national origin, handicaps, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or economic condition. To the best of my ability, I will work to ensure that all persons have equal access to FVIP resources and services.(g) Background Check Requirement. All applicants shall undergo a comprehensive criminal background, temporary protective order, and driver history check. Facilitators may be subject to additional background checks at any point during their period of certification. All background checks will be conducted by the Department. The Commission shall report to the facilitator the results of the background checks at the request of the applicant or facilitator. 1. Facilitators shall provide the Commission documentation and details of any of the following: i. Conviction, guilty plea, or nolo contendere plea for any felony or misdemeanor.ii. Adjudication of guilt withheld for a felony or misdemeanor, including first offender act and conditional discharge sentencing.iii. Current charges of a violation of law.iv. Reports to the Department of Family and Children's Services for child abuse or neglect.v. Protective orders issued against them, or bond conditions resulting from an arrest.vi. A finding of family or domestic violence made in divorce, custody or visitation proceedings.vii. Any sanctions and revocations imposed by any professional licensing boards.(h) Notification of Arrest Requirement. Once certified, facilitators shall report to the Commission by the next business day after release any arrest.(i) Notification of Temporary Protection Order Respondent Requirement. Once certified, facilitators shall report to the Commission any temporary protection or stalking orders of which they are a respondent by the next business day after service of the order.(j) Facilitator Certification Schedule and Fees. The Commission will review certification applications for facilitators on an ongoing basis. Each applicant will be required to submit a nonrefundable $150.00 certification fee with their application. The Commission will prorate certification fees to the nearest January 1.(2) Recertification Requirements for Family Violence Intervention Program Facilitators. Once certified, a facilitator shall remain certified for two (2) years from the prorated January 1 certification date as long as the facilitator remains in compliance with applicable laws and rules. The failure or refusal to maintain certification while facilitating FVIP classes shall subject the facilitator to sanctions provided in these rules. (a) Recertification Training Requirements. Each applicant shall submit to the Commission a completed application and all requested documentation.1. Training requirements must be completed between the months of January - December annually. Facilitators shall provide proof of completing the following training requirements when applying for recertification: i. Completion of twelve (12) hours of Commission-approved training annually.ii. Attend three (3) meetings of the Community Task Force on Family Violence or other coordinated community response to domestic violence annually. If no such body exists, the applicant shall attend other family violence community meetings for this requirement or may request from the Commission this requirement be met through domestic violence court observations, law enforcement ride-alongs, or volunteering with a domestic violence program.(b) Recertification Schedules and Fees. 1. Facilitators shall complete and submit to the Commission the required application and documents by January 1 biannually. Each recertification applicant will be required to submit a nonrefundable $100 recertification fee with their application.2. There will be a $100 late fee for certified facilitators who submit their application for recertification within thirty (30) calendar days after January 1. If a recertification application is not received within thirty (30) calendar days after January 1, facilitator certification will be suspended and there will be an additional $200 reinstatement fee if recertification requirements are met within sixty (60) calendar days.3. After sixty (60) calendar days, certification will be expired. Within two (2) years of certification expiration, previously certified facilitators may apply for reinstatement of their certification by providing proof of completing ongoing continuing education and Community Task Force on Family Violence participation requirements and submit a $200 reinstatement fee. After two (2) years, previously certified facilitators who seek recertification will be required to apply for certification as new facilitators.(c) Certification and Recertification Requirements for Facilitators Approved before January 1, 2019. 1. All Commission approved facilitators shall be provided the opportunity to obtain certification upon providing the Commission with the requested information by December 30, 2018. Initial certification for approved facilitators will last for one (1) or two (2) years in order to stagger distribution of certification of facilitators. The Commission will notify the facilitator of their certification via certified mail by March 1, 2019.2. Facilitators who receive an initial one (1) year certification period will be required to provide proof of the following on their next recertification application: completing twelve (12) hours of Commission-approved training obtained from January - December, evidence of attending three (3) Community Task Force on Family Violence meetings from January-December, and a $100 recertification fee. All facilitators who are certified for an initial one (1) year certification period shall be required to attend three (3) hours of Commission-provided training on the Rules of Family Violence Intervention Programs within their first year of certification.3. Facilitators who receive an initial two (2) year certification period will be required to provide proof of the following on their next recertification application: completing twelve (12) hours of Commission-approved training obtained from January - December annually, evidence of attending three (3) Community Task Force on Family Violence meetings from January - December annually, and a $100 recertification fee. All facilitators who are certified for an initial two (2) year certification period shall be required to attend three (3) hours of Commission-provided training on the Rules of Family Violence Intervention Programs within their second year of certification.(3) Notice of Approval or Denial of Facilitator Certification and Recertification. (a) Upon receipt of all required application materials, the Commission will undertake a review of the application materials for purposes of determining whether the facilitator meets all certification or recertification requirements. The Commission will notify the applicant within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of application materials if the application has been approved or denied, if the application is incomplete, or if the Commission requires more time to process the application.(b) If the Commission determines all facilitator certification or recertification requirements have been satisfied as set forth by law and in these rules, the Commission shall certify or recertify the facilitator. The Commission will notify the facilitator of their initial certification via certified mail at the address provided in the application. The Commission will notify the facilitator of their recertification in the Commission designated reporting system.(c) If the Commission determines facilitator certification or recertification requirements have not been satisfied, the Commission will advise the applicant or facilitator who is denied initial certification or recertification, in writing, of the reasons for its decision to deny facilitator certification or recertification. New applicants will be notified via the email address provided in the application. Facilitators seeking recertification will be notified via the Commission designated reporting system. The applicant will then have ten (10) business days from the date of the Commission's notification of denial of certification or recertification to submit additional documentation, correct deficiencies, or otherwise complete the application as may be required by the Commission. If the applicant again fails to demonstrate compliance with all certification requirements, the application shall be denied. (d) Denials may be appealed by following procedures required by law and these rules.(e) It is the responsibility of applicants and facilitators to submit and maintain their current mailing address and email address with the Commission as any and all correspondence will be sent to the mailing address and email address on file.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 105-3-.05
O.C.G.A. §§ 19-13-11; 19-13-13(b); 19-13-14(a)& (e); 19-13-17 .
Original Rule entitled "Certification Requirements for Family Violence Intervention Program Facilitators" adopted. F. Dec. 3, 2018; eff. Dec. 23, 2018.