CDA Professional Portfolio Family Questionnaires - post

The Family Questionnaires used in the CDA process focus on gathering feedback from families regarding your interactions, communication, and support for their child’s #development. Questions aim to assess how well you foster relationships and meet the needs of children and their families. Here are some common questions regarding the Family Questionnaires.

How Many Family Questionnaires Do You Need?

• Minimum Requirement: The Council requires that you receive 51% or more questionnaires than the amount that was distributed to families of children you have worked with. These questionnaires provide feedback on your professional interactions and support for their children’s development.
• To ensure you meet this requirement:
• Aim to distribute questionnaires to all families to account for any that may not be returned or incomplete.
• You can include extra questionnaires in your portfolio for a stronger presentation.

When and Where Should the FQs Be Submitted?

• Timing: Family Questionnaires must be completed and included in your portfolio at least 6 months before you apply for the CDA credential. This is to ensure you have adequate time to gather, review, and use the feedback for professional #growth.
• Submission:
• FQs should be included in your Professional Portfolio. They don’t get submitted separately but are presented during your CDA verification visit with your PD Specialist. The Council doesn’t directly collect them.
• Once you have distributed and collected your Family Questionnaires, place them behind Tab B in your Professional Portfolio. Complete the Summary Sheet and put it in front of the completed questionnaires.

What do I do with the Family Questionnaires?

• Before your CDA Verification Visit, read the Family Questionnaires you received. Look for trends or patterns of responses and write down, in boxes A and B of the CDA Verification Visit Reflective Dialogue Worksheet, as many areas of strength and areas for professional growth that you would like.

What questions are asked of families in the family questionnaire?

The following appear on the family questionnaire in relation to you, the Candidate. For each area, families rate the Candidate on a scale of 1 – 3 in which 1 = Needs improvement/Area for professional growth,  2 = Capable/Competent, and 3 = Very capable/Area of strength.

• Provides a #safe, clean environment for my child and teaches her/him how to stay safe.
• Provides an environment that promotes #health-and good nutrition.
• Provides activities, materials, and schedules that promote my child’s development and education.
• Uses activities, materials, and equipment that allow my child to develop small muscle skills (like writing or pouring) and large muscle skills (like climbing or balancing).
• Uses activities, materials, and equipment that help my child learn how to think, reason, and solve problems.
• Helps my child learn how to communicate and introduces her/him to the basics of reading and writing.
• Helps my child #express herself/himself creatively through music,  art, and movement.
• Nurtures my child, helping her/him build a positive self-identity and respect for every child’s cultural background.
• Helps my child learn how to socialize and get along with others. 
• Uses effective strategies to help my child understand how to behave appropriately.
• Establishes positive, responsive, and cooperative relationships with myself and the members of our family.
• Is well-organized and effectively manages the #classroom or group.
• Presents herself/himself in a professional manner.