Claire Forest
Extension Associate,Sr
2007
HDWeb Bio Page
Current Activities
Current Professional Activities
Director, Cornell Family Development Credential Program (FDC).
Current Research Activities
Two studies currently underway:
"Meaning and Significance of Mother-FDC Coach Relationships, To Mothers Overcoming Barriers" Research sites include NYC and an upstate NY region.
"How and Why Do Family Development Programs Differ From Conventional Family Support Programs", Chemung county, NY.
Current Extension Activities
Program leadership for Cornell Family Development Credential (FDC) program which emerged from Cornell research (parental empowerment; Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory). FDC has been adapted through affiliation agreements in eighteen state and the District of Columbia.
Lead five hundred instructors who have trained thousands of life coaches "family workers" to help families set and reach their own goals for increased self-reliance within their own communities. These coaches and instructors remain employed by Cornell Cooperative Extension, county community action agencies, community colleges, public health departments, NYSEG, police departments, Head Start, offices for aging, and other organizations.
Biography
Biographical Statement
My professional focus is on research-policy-practice in family development with vulnerable families. I direct the Cornell Family Development Credential (FDC) system based on Bronfenbrenner et al's Family Matters research, and developed in collaboration with state agencies. I am currently conducted a study with urban and rural families and credentialed workers. This study investigates the meaning and signficance of the mother-FDC coach relationship, to mothers attempting to overcome the barriers of poverty.
Ninteen states and the District of Columbia have developed statewide family worker training and credentialing systems based on Cornell's Empowerment Skills for Family Workers curriculum, FDC protocol, and Cornell's consultation.
Courses, Websites, Pubs
Courses Taught
Co-taught Feb. and March 2007 four-day technical course for FDC instructors in Ithaca (40 participants)
Co-taught FDC Instructor Update in Ithaca in March. 30 participants.
Related Websites
http://www.human.cornell.edu/HD/FDC
Publications
Forest, Claire, Revised 2003. Empowerment Skills for Family Workers. Published by Cornell Family Development Press and distributed by Cornell University Press. Ordering information: orderbook@cupserv.org 1-800-666-2211
Palmer-House, Katie, and Claire Forest. 2003. Empowerment Skills for Leaders. Published by Cornell Family Development Press and distributed by Cornell University Press. Ordering information: orderbook@cupserv.org 1-800-666-2211
Palmer-House, Katie, and Claire Forest. 2003. Empowerment Skills for Family Workers: Instructors Manual. Published by Cornell Family Development Press and distributed by Cornell University Press. Ordering information: orderbook@cupserv.org 1-800-666-2211