Giving back: the Career Development Leadership Alliance
The Career Development Alliance (CDA) grew from a non-profit organization, the Career Development Leadership Alliance (CDLA) formed in 1998. CDLA's original mission, "to develop and deliver high-quality career development services and training" continues through the non-profit arm of our organization. As licensed psychologists and practicing people of faith, CDA's principals act on their commitment to supporting the career development of individuals who have limited access to career services.
The United States
CDLA authored the Career Development Facilitator (CDF) training curriculum for the National Career Development Association (NCDA) in 2000. This curriculum has been used to train thousands of career practitioners across the U.S. and we are proud that it has been designated as NCDA's official CDF curriculum. We are currently developing a national exam that will be used as an additional resource in conjunction with this curriculum.
CDLA responded to a request from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) to customize its Career Development Facilitator (CDF) curriculum in order to train Offender Workforce Development Specialists (OWDSs). These individuals assist ex-offenders in finding and keeping jobs during their transition back into the community. Thus far, over 1,000 career practitioners have completed this program, and in turn, have added value to the lives of tens of thousands of clients.
Kenya
In 2008-09, CDLA funded the training of ten Career Development Facilitators (CDFs), the first career professionals trained on the African continent. We are proud that a number of these individuals are going forward with additional studies in career development and human services and are confident that they will make a positive contribution to their communities.
India
CDLA's Principals became interested in India through their ten-year service on the board of International Families, Inc., an international adoption agency, and the PEACE society, an orphanage in Coimbatoire, India. We are currently working with Dr. Narender Chadha of Delhi University, as well as representatives from partner universities, to sponsor the creation of a national career development association for India. We are hopeful that this will support academicians, business leaders, and career practitioners in India to benefit from the advancement of career development in the global community and that this, in turn, will lead to enhanced career programming for the people of India.
