The CCAM designation is a professional-level credential for individuals who advocate on behalf of dependent children to ensure child safety and best interests of the child are met. The GAL Certified Child Advocate Manager (CCAM) is a member of the child’s multi-disciplinary team, which also includes a volunteer child advocate, GAL Attorney, and a child welfare professional.
The CCAM achieves desired child advocacy outcomes through effective coaching, relationship building, monitoring and managing an assigned volunteer child advocate workforce. These GAL volunteers conduct the “leg work” of visiting and assessing the child, advocating for the child in case related staffings and meetings, and participate in court hearings to help ensure the best interests of the child are being met in a manner that expedites permanency goals while ensuring child safety.
As the GAL Advocacy’s Team subject matter expert, the CCAM shares their expertise and provides technical assistance and/or training to volunteer child advocates, as necessary, to achieve child safety and best interest outcomes. In the absence of the GAL volunteer, the CCAM must perform the child advocacy management and court activities expected of a volunteer.
All CCAMs have demonstrated competency through training, experience and supervision in the performance domains of:
- Child Advocacy Management
- Volunteer Coaching, Relationship Building, Management and Support
- Court Preparation and Participation
- Legal, Ethical and Professional Responsibilities
CCAM applicants are subject to the policies and procedures as described in the FCB Certified Child Advocate Manager (CCAM) Standards and Requirements Tables. Please carefully review all of the credential requirements before applying for certification.
How to Apply
- Applicants must create an online account.
- Create an electronic CCAM Application for Certification (from your online account).
- Complete all required fields of information
- Upload required documents
- Provide the contact information of the GAL Program Office designee
- Monitor email for application approval and directions to pre-register for the CCAM exam.
Key Information
- The GAL Program Office designee is responsible for coordinating the submission of all required documentation through the application and credentialing process.
- The credential is awarded upon receipt of a passing score on the CCAM exam.