Woman sitting on the floor with three children watching as she reads an opened picture book

Instructor Candidates begin teaching using the Kidpower Teaching Kits

Certified Instructor Training Programs

Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International provides two instructor training programs that certify people to teach under the auspices of our organization:

1) Kidpower Instructor Training for teaching children and their grownups.

2) Fullpower/Teenpower Training for teaching teens and adults, including those with special needs.

We're ALWAYS looking for people who are interested in becoming instructors with our organization! Our goal is to provide high quality training to everyone, especially those most at risk of bullying, violence, or abuse.

People who join us have a genuine interest in teaching others how to protect themselves from emotional and physical violence and abuse. They are ready to make a long-term commitment to being part of our organization.

Getting Started

What is the Process for Becoming a Certified Instructor?

Cost of the Certified Training Program

Comprehensive Program Training (CPT) Description

2012 Schedule and Fees for the Six-Day Intensive CPTs

How to Apply

Certified Instructor Benefits

Getting Started

Whether you are interesting in teaching children, teens, or adults, or all ages, your first steps, if you have not done this already, are to sign up for our free educational e-newletter and purchase The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults, which provides an important foundation for anyone who wishes to become involved with our organization.

To go forward, there are three paths for becoming an instructor with our organization.

  1. If you are in California, you can become an instructor as part of the California Regional Center.  Please read all the information below and then contact us to begin the application process.
  2. If you are not in California, but you are close to one of our Centers, please read the information below and then contact your local Center Director. To check if you are close to an active Center, please look at our Locations page. Note: How close to a center you need to be to become part of the center varies. If you are within 2-3 hours driving distance of a center, please contact them first.
  3. If you are not close to an active center and you do not live in California, please read all the information on this page as well as the Center Development page and then contact us in the central office.

What is the path to becoming a certified Kidpower instructor?

NOTE: Centers are independently run though they all operate under the auspices and support of the Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International Central Office. Centers may have some variation in the specific process they use to certify an instructor, though they will all follow these general phases.

  1. The Application Phase: This is when we consider and interview Applicants. Outstanding Instructors are the heart of our program and our future, so we invest significant time and resources in our Instructor Candidates from the moment we agree to work together. This means we can welcome a limited number and so are careful to select Applicants who are motivated to do this work and who demonstrate the commitment and the ability to uphold Kidpower’s Mission, Goals, and Values, and Best Practices. Applicants will be asked to sign up for free e-newsletter, purchase The Kidpower Book, complete screening questions, fill out a written application, sign a training agreement, and have a meeting by telephone, Skype, or in-person.
    In addition to any fingerprint fees and the book cost, the application fee to Kidpower is $50.
  2. The Pre-Training Phase: After being accepted into our training program, Instructor Candidates start the training process by studying the program manual and workshop videos; by assisting in workshops where possible; by doing practice presentations in limited circumstances; and by identifying community connections they can build upon to create fieldwork practice teaching opportunities when they return home for the Supervised Fieldwork phase.  During the Pre-Training Phase, Candidates will create an Individualized Training Plan with their Training Supervisor.

    All Candidates will be assigned a Training Supervisor.  In established Centers, the Training Supervisor will be the Center Director from the Candidate’s local Center.  If the Candidate is also starting a new Center because there is no Center in his or her area, the Candidate will be assigned a Supervisor from the Central Office who will support the Candidate’s instructor training and center development.

  3. Participate in the intensive Comprehensive Program Training (CPT). We lead two CPT programs each year - Kidpower and Teenpower/Fullpower. Each CPT program is six days long and is held in Santa Cruz, California. Candidates may choose to become Kidpower Instructors (i.e. instructors for children, school and parent education programs) or Teenpower/Fullpower Instructors (i.e. instructors working with teens and adults) or both.  Participation in the CPT for the type of program you wish to teach is a required part of the instructor training process. The majority of individuals who join our organization begin by coming to the Kidpower Comprehensive Program Training and focus on the children’s curriculum and then work towards certification in the teen and adult classes.
  4. Supervised Fieldwork: This is when Candidates gain experience teaching parts of the program. This will include presenting in scheduled workshops but also includes leading short practice sessions the Candidate arranges in supportive environments, such as local schools and parent groups, with close guidance and supervision from a Training Supervisor. Depending on the location, the Supervised Fieldwork phase includes video review or in-person teaching under supervision and leads to gradual authorization to teach in different settings.  This phase varies in length based on the skill set of the Candidate, the amount of time the Candidate can devote to learning the curriculum, and where the Candidate is located.
  5. Certification as a new Instructor: The Candidate is certified to teach specific workshops as an Instructor as long as class plans are reviewed prior to teaching and workshops are evaluated afterwards with the Center Director or Training Supervisor.   The Candidate (now called an Instructor) will continue working with his or her Supervisor for up to two years to provide ongoing support and professional development. 
  6. Ongoing Certification. In order to maintain their certification, Instructors must stay active and take part in ongoing learning through participation in activities provided by their local center; reading listserve and e-newsletter e-mails; going to conferences or repeating a training; Skype meetings; and/or conference calls.

    The entire length of time from Application Phase to Certification varies.  However, for most people the process takes about six months to two years.  People interested in becoming an instructor should expect to commit between 500 and 1000 hours to the process (from pre-training to certification). 

    This time includes the six days of Comprehensive Program Training, as well as pre- and post-training workshops, and time spent studying and learning curriculum.  This time is unpaid.  Once an Instructor is certified to teach a workshop, he or she has the potential of being paid by the Center if funds are available or charging fees for his or her time.  Compensation is different depending on which Center the Instructor is working with or if he or she is starting a new Center. 

    For all phone communication, we request that the Candidate be the one to call us (to cover long-distance charges) or, preferably to be able to use a free video conferencing service (such as Skype).

"The path of becoming and being a Kidpower instructor has been, for me, deeply rewarding. Strangely enough, having so clearly and proudly defined myself as a school teacher and a mother, I almost missed it altogether. Stretching my mind to imagine myself doing this kind of work felt scary because it was unusual. But I found when I stretched, I learned that Kidpower instructors don't look any one way."

Kidpower Instructor

Cost of The Certified Training Program

Independent evaluation of the Kidpower Training Program has put the cost of the program for our organization at $5,000 including materials.  However, we charge a reduced fee for our training program, as we deeply value the commitment each Candidate makes to Kidpower and our mission.  We are able to do so because of the generous support of our donors as well as the extremely generous donations of time from our training staff.

The initial fee for the training after being accepted if you want to start a new center and will be receiving support for becoming an instructor and a new Center Director is $2,500.  This is 50% less than the true costs for us to provide this training.  This covers all stages of the training process through to certification as well as the first year after the training of beginning center development support with a Supervisor. (Please note: This is the only option for anyone who would like to start providing services in an area that is not served by a currently active center.) This fee only covers the training and materials. Ongoing Center Fees are either $300 a year or 5% of the gross program income, whichever is greater, as well as insurance.

The cost for training if you want to become an instructor in California or with one of our experienced centers is $1,200. This fee is dramatically reduced due to the support the international organization has from donors and to the support given to the Candidate from the sponsoring Center. (Please note: if you live in California, your only option is to become an instructor through the California Regional Center. We do not have independent Centers in California. However, we do have Satellite Offices in some locations.)

The following payment plan is required for the Kidpower Training Program:

  1. A $50 non-refundable application fee to help us cover the costs of screening a Candidate.  This fee is required when we receive the formal application.  This fee is non-refundable.
  2. $500 of the training fee is required to begin the Pre-Training Phase of the program.  After this fee has been paid, the Candidate will create an Individualized Training Plan with his or her Supervisor.
  3. $250 for Candidates from active centers including California and $500 for Candidates who will be starting new Centers is required two months before the Comprehensive Program date (for January trainings this is normally around November 15th).
  4. The final installment of $450 (for Candidates from experienced Centers including California) and $1,500 for Candidates who will be starting new Centers is due one month prior to training (for January training dates, this is normally end of December.)

We are open to discussing some flexibility in the payment plan.  Sometimes it works before for Candidates to spread their payments out into smaller installments.  However, because we commit a large amount of resources to conducting the training program, we do require that the training to be paid in full one month prior to the date of the Comprehensive Program Training.  All alternate payment plans must be approved by our Executive Director.

Note: The Application Fee and Training Fees listed above are separate from other potential costs including long distance telephone, background check, international mailing of materials, travel, etc.

Comprehensive Program Training Description

One important piece of the certification process is our intensive, six-day Comprehensive Program Training (CPT).  CPT is a required step on the path to becoming a Certified Instructor.  Like all Kidpower programs at every level, CPT is experiential, success-based, and individually adapted for each Candidate. Candidates have extensive, supported practice opportunities to build both practical and theoretical skills in the following areas:

  • “People Safety” Skills appropriate for children and/or teen and adults, including boundary setting, verbal skills, stranger safety, and physical self-defense;
  • Fullpower skills for your own training, to build confidence in your own self-protection skills as well as to deepen understanding of the relevance of these skills for your students;
  • Kidpower Positive Practice Methodology and Teaching Tools that can increase effectiveness in other areas of instruction as well;
  • Classroom management as well as individual student management skills;
  • Adapting and tailoring to address special needs of a group or an individual;
  • Public speaking and interactive presentation skills; and
  • Team teaching and cooperative leadership.

Candidates get in-the-moment coaching and support as they integrate all these skills through hands-on work with real students and their parents and teachers. They also get to see experienced Instructors in action.

2013 Schedule and Fees for Pre-Training, the Six-Day Intensive Comprehensive Program Trainings (CPT), and Post Training

Please Note: We only offer each type of our Comprehensive Program Trainings once a year. However, we encourage people to apply to participate in our training program as soon as they are ready to make this commitment, as the Comprehensive Program Training is only one step in the training process. Having time to begin your pre-training before the Comprehensive Program Training can be very useful in helping you to get the most out of your time there. Candidates who spend more time doing pre-training are likely to have a shorter time to complete their Supervised Fieldwork.

There are two Comprehensive Program Trainings: one for kids and their adults (the Kidpower training held normally in the end of January) and one for teens and adults (the Teenpower/Fullpower training to be scheduled in July). You are required to go to at least one full Comprehensive Program Training for the age group you wish to teach as part of the certification process. If you want to work with kids, you will go to the Kidpower CPT. If you want to work with teens and adults, you will go to the Teenpower/Fullpower CPT. If you want to work with all ages and abilities, we normally recommend the Kidpower Comprehensive Training first, followed by the Teenpower/Fullpower Comprehensive Training the same year or the following year.

If you choose to become certified in all aspects of our program and want to attend both trainings you will pay either $1,200 (for individuals who are part of active Centers or the California Regional Center) or $2,500 (for individuals starting new centers). This price includes your pre-training support, the fee for attending your first Comprehensive Program Training, and the first year of follow-up support towards certification. You will need to pay an additional $1,200 to include the fee for attending the second Comprehensive Program Training and follow up training support. Because you would already have been accepted into the training program, you would not need to repeat the application process.

Therefore, your total Training Fee, if you choose to become both a Kidpower and Teenpower/Fullpower instructor would be either $2400 (for individuals who are part of active Centers or the California Regional Center) or $3,500 (for individuals starting new centers). The second part of the fee would not need to be paid until you were ready to attend your second Comprehensive Program Training.

However, once you have attended a Comprehensive Program Training (either Kidpower or Teenpower/Fullpower) you are welcome to return yearly to the same training to gain additional knowledge and skill development without paying for the training again. We only charge a small fee of $300 to cover food and new material costs.

For example, this means if you want to be certified to become a Kidpower instructor and you are part of an active center, you will pay $1,200. This will cover the Kidpower Comprehensive Program Training along with all the pre- and post-training support to certification for one year. If you choose, you can come to the Kidpower Comprehensive Program Training every year to continue to gain skills, receive follow up training support, and to increase your depth of understanding of the curriculum. However, if after a year or two you decide you want to become a Teenpower or Fullpower Instructor, you will need to attend the Teenpower/Fullpower Comprehensive Training and pay the additional fee of $1,200.

Kidpower Comprehensive Program Training Schedule for 2013

The Kidpower Comprehensive Program Training focuses on preparing instructors to teach children and their adults. As soon as they are accepted into our instructor training program, Candidates will start pre-training activities prior to coming to training.

Training dates for 2013 are Thursday, January 24th through Tuesday, January 29th

Training Preparation Day: Thursday, January 24th. All Candidates are required at the training preparation day UNLESS they have already participated in these activities in their Center. Even then, we highly recommend participating in preparation day activities, which include a demo workshop and a physical self-defense workshop for Candidates to take as students. Full Force Instructor Candidates, who will be wearing the head-to-toe padded suit, will need to get fitted for their suit and get preliminary full force training on this day.

Training Schedule:
Thursday Preparation Day 9-noon and 1-5 (Lunch is not included)
Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
Saturday-Monday 8:30am-6:00pm
Tuesday 8:30am-5:00pm

Application Deadline: November 15, 2012 Note: If you wish to start our training program, apply as soon as possible. Getting accepted earlier gives you the opportunity for more pre-training.

 

Teenpower/Fullpower Comprehensive Program Training

The Teenpower/Fullpower Comprehensive Program Training focuses on preparing instructors to teach teens and adults, including people with disabilities.

When: 2013 dates coming soon

Training Schedule:
Thursday Preparation Day 9-noon and 1-5 (Lunch is not included)
Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
Saturday-Monday 8:30am-6:00pm
Tuesday 8:30am-5:00pm

Application Deadline: To be announced (normally two months before training date)

How to Apply

Indicate interest and read all information on our website carefully. Please make sure to have read about instructor training, qualifications, and center development.

When you email either the Central Office or your local Center Director, please make sure to include:

  1. Where you are located
  2. A short paragraph about yourself and why you are interested in working with Kidpower
  3. A resume, if you have one. If not, please include a brief description of your relevant work history
  4. If you have had the opportunity to participate in a Kidpower workshop

Depending on where you are coming from and whether you will be starting a new center or not, you will begin an application process with either the Training Coordinator through the Central Office or
your local Center Director.

All Applicants will be required to complete screening questions and arrange an interview to see if applying to the training program is a good fit for you or not. If both the Applicant and Kidpower
representative feel good about moving forward with the application process, then the applicant will complete a formal application and pay a non-refundable $50 application fee by credit card, money order, or check. Applicants selected as Candidates are required to sign training and, if appropriate, center development, agreements prior to commencing training. Only a limited number of Candidates will be accepted. We recommend applying as early as possible.

Certified Instructor Benefits

People from all over the world have participated in our certified instructor training program. We are dedicated to maintaining extremely high quality standards and ethics and only certify as instructors people who demonstrate that they can uphold our values and meet our Instructor Certification Standards for the programs they teach under our auspices.

The most important qualities for being a successful instructor are having a good heart, a good head, good emotional and physical health, high ethics, respect for boundaries, and a deep commitment to making a difference in the world through this work.

Benefits

  • Kidpower invests in each selected Candidate. Each Candidate has the capacity strengthen our organization and our ability to help others, and we pay for their participation. The $2,000 cost is a 50% fee that reflects Kidpower’s equivalent investment in the Candidate.
  • You have the opportunity to work with a Trainer and/or a Center Director to develop an individualized training plan and receive ongoing professional growth support.
  • As an Instructor, you have the opportunity to teach workshops through your Center or to have support in setting up a Center in a new community.
  • You will have quality supervision and ongoing access to our program development.
  • You’ll be welcomed onto our e-mail list-serve connecting Kidpower instructors and board members worldwide with discussion on content updates, articles, recent issues.
  • You will have the opportunity for further development of your own boundary-setting and personal safety skills.
  • You will get experience in real classes with real students taught by outstanding instructors.
  • You’ll strengthen your teaching skills through seeing, learning and practicing our teaching tools.
  • You will have hands-on training in our skills and activities with the opportunity to get coaching by trainers on how to present these effectively.
  • You will become part of our international organization with permission to use copyrighted materials, programs, and program names you are certified to teach; access to new curriculum development, and use of our endorsements and references.
  • While doing Kidpower-authorized activities, you will be covered under our liability coverage in the USA and Canada.
  • You will pay reduced fees for program materials.
  • You’ll have the personal satisfaction of teaching others simple and effective safety skills that can make a huge difference in their lives.

For more information on the benefits of joining our organization read Skills for Your Life/Skills to Teach Others--the benefits to becoming a Kidpower Instructor.

For More Information

  1. Read about our positive and practical approach for teaching personal safety skills to people of all ages and abilities by buying one of our resource publications or signing up for our free e-newsletter. Our Comprehensive Program Manuals are now available for purchase by the general public. These manuals have been developed during our over 20 years of teaching thousands of students and training hundreds of instructors.
  2. Read What it Means to be a Kidpower Instructor, by Erika Leonard, Assistant Director of Community Education
  3. If you would like to find out more about the training process, please phone or email us, and please be sure to pass this information on to others who you think might be interested.

Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International