Corrections_Today_January_February_2019

Professional Development

Professional Development Update

Allow me to introduce you to ‘the most important subject’ Furthering your education and career with professional development! M uch like the world we live in, the field of corrections is ever-changing. What might By Casandra DePalma

correctional field. We are the experts in the field of corrections and have created unique programs best suited for corrections professionals that are geared toward personal and profes- sional improvement. It is important to develop and evolve into a better employee in any profession, regardless of your current

role. At ACA, we have a few differ- ent ways for individuals to support growth and development that are offered by the professional develop- ment department, such as national certification, e-learning and face-to- face trainings. Professional credentials are an important topic of discussion. More

have been relevant in years past may not be relevant today. This begs a ques- tion: Isn’t it in the best interest of those in the field to stay up-to-date with current best-practices and standards? If you answered affirmatively, then you know there is no better way to become and stay current than professional development. Besides preventing one from becoming stagnant in his or her career, and yielding benefits far out- reaching the obvious, ACA’s educative work is, as a young Abraham Lincoln said regarding education, “the most important subject.” In a general sense, professional development is learning to earn or maintain professional credentials, such as professional certifications to coursework and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. It can be described as concentrated and collective, ideally integrating an evaluative phase. At ACA, we are passionate about professional devel- opment, as it is constantly growing to meet the demanding needs of the

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72 — January/February 2019 Corrections Today