Certification to Promote
Competency, Collaboration and
Assurance
Christine Moranda, LSW, CDMS, CCM
Chair-Elect, CDMS Commission
President, OhioBLN
Manager, Disability Services,
Associate Health and Wellness, OhioHealth
© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Definitions
The CDMS Commission is:
– the only independent and nationally
accredited organization that certifies
disability management specialists
– through sound testing, backed by
scientific research, continuing
education, and a strict code of
professional conduct
– the validator of the core knowledge
and competency of these experts
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
What is Certification?
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Definitions
• Attests to one’s knowledge,
experience, expertise, skills and
competence
• Achievement of certification by
written exam
• The purpose of certification is to
protect the public/consumers
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
CDMS
Who and what is a CDMS?
•A professional with a Certified Disability
Management Specialist (CDMS)
possesses the proven knowledge, skills
and competence to implement and
manage workforce programs
•The CDMS credential strives to
represent excellence in integrated
disability and absence management
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Definitions
The CDMS Certification brings
together many related professional
disciplines in the practice of disability
management . . .
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
What is Integrated Disability
Management?
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Integrated Disability Mgmt
• Allows employers to offer support and
services to employees who:
– Have a non-occupational illness or injury
– Have sustained an occupational illness or
injury
– Have a disability and in need of an
accommodation
• Assist employees with return to work or stay
at work programs
• Focuses on the abilities of employees,
regardless of their limiting condition
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
What is Absence Management?
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Absence Management
• Addresses unscheduled employee
absences
• Seeks to minimize the impact on
the employer and the employee
• Includes employees who are off
work due to disability as well as
for family/personal issues and
other reasons
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Features of Certification
Eligibility
Typically a blend of academic preparation
and professional experience.
Examination
Those who hold a certification must pass a
psychometrically validated certification
exam based on specified skills and
knowledge.
Certification Guide
Provides information about the application
and examination process, including
eligibility criteria, an outline of exam
content and some sample questions.
Renewal and
Continuing Education
Criteria which details requirements for
renewal and usually includes continuing
education in specified focus areas.
Code of Professional
Conduct or Ethics
Includes Principles and Rules of Professional
Conduct, which are fundamental
assumptions to guide professional conduct
which prescribe the level of professional
conduct required of every certificant.
Compliance is mandatory and enforced.
© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
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Becoming a CDMS
• Eligibility criteria
– Education: Bachelors degree or RN
– Professional Experience: Minimum of 12
months, with at least 60% of the job in
disability management
• Upon confirmation of eligibility, the
certification candidate sits for a
computer-based examination at one of
over 250 testing centers
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
ADMS
• Associate Disability Management
Specialist (ADMS) designation
• In coordination with the Core
Knowledge Curriculum
• Achieved by attaining an 80%
aggregate passing rate on the
questions for each of the course
learning modules
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Certification vs. Certificate
Certification (CDMS)
Certificate (ADMS)
Results from an assessment
process that recognizes
individuals knowledge, skills
and competency
Results from an educational
process
Typically requires professional
experience
For newcomers or experienced
professionals in need of specific
education
Indicates mastery/competency
as measured against a
defensible set of standards,
usually by examination
Indicates completion of a course or
series of courses with a specific
focus
Standards set through a
defensible, job analysis in an
outline of required knowledge
and skills
Course content is not typically
standardized
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Importance for Consumers
• CDMS certificants and ADMS
designees are held to high standards
of professional conduct and practice
• Both the CDMS and ADMS are backed
by scientific field research (Role and
Function Study or job analysis) which is
conducted every 5 years to determine
the current scope of roles and job
demands for disability management
specialists
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
CDMS Certification
CDMS Certification stands for competency,
collaboration and assurance in meeting the
needs of employers and employees in
today’s challenging work environment.
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Competency
Certified Disability Management Specialists
possess the competency, skills and experience
necessary to meet the demands of employers
today
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Competency in Action
Certification allows disability managers to:
• Respond to employer demands in a changing
workplace
• Implement integrated workplace solutions
• Contribute to improved productivity and quality
• Further the safety and risk management goals
of employers
• Focus on health, wellness and prevention
• Coordinate with other leave and benefit
programs
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Collaboration
• Certified Disability Management Specialists
are able to identify important partners to
achieve proactive, positive outcomes in the
workplace
• Effective delivery of disability management
services involves multiple stakeholders
• The diverse and versatile skills of CDMSs
make them key collaborators – inside and
outside the organization
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Collaboration in Action
Certified Disability Management Specialists have
the proven knowledge and expertise to:
• Promote effective communication among stakeholders
• Participate in multi-disciplinary workplace teams
composed of human resources, risk management,
safety, occupational health, and others
• Work closely with others to achieve successful returnto-work and stay-at-work outcomes
• Design, implement, and evaluate workplace programs
in cooperation with management and labor
• Offer training and education of supervisors, managers,
employees, labor organizations and others to promote
program goals
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Assurance
Certified Disability Management Specialists
have the specialized knowledge and expertise
that is valued by both employers and
employees
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Assurance in Action
Certified Disability Management Specialists are able to
perform at the highest level of proficiency. Certification
provides the assurance that CDMSs:
• Are capable to deliver quality disability management services, such
as return-to-work, stay-at-work, absence management, health and
wellness, and productivity
• Are qualified to design, implement, and evaluate workplace
programs that are valid and based on current evidence-based
practices
• Adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards through a
Code of Professional Conduct
• Are obligated to exercise independent judgment in performing
their practice duties
• Commit to professional development through continuing
education
• Stay current with practice issues and trends
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Bring It All Together
• Ethics: CDMS Certification and ADMS
Designation require adherence to high
ethical standards
• Professional Practice: Through
certification, disability managers
demonstrate their ability to balance
business concerns and workforce
realities – while meeting the needs of
employees who are ill, injured or who
have a disability
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Core Knowledge Curriculum
Certification requires continuing education and
promotes professional development
• To meet the needs of the disability management field in which knowledge and skills are gained mostly
through on-the-job experience – the CDMS Commission
has developed the a disability management Core
Knowledge Curriculum (CKC)
• This unique, online learning resource addresses all
aspects of disability management today
• Based on the four areas of practice (domains) of
disability management as identified by the 2009 CDMS
Role and Function Study
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
CKC Four Domains
• Domain I: Disability and Work
Interruption Case Management
• Domain II: Workplace Intervention for
Disability Prevention
• Domain III: Program Development,
Management, and Evaluation
• Domain IV: Employment Leaves and
Benefits Administration
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Uses of the CKC
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Looking Ahead
• The CDMS Commission is dedicated to
the advancement of the field of
disability management
• Through ongoing field research,
educational offerings such as the Core
Knowledge Curriculum, and working
with our key partners such as the
USBLN®, the CDMS Commission will
continue to foster connections and
conversations around the relevancy of
disability management today
© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
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Questions?
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© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission
Thank you!
Christine Moranda, LSW, CDMS, CCM
Chair-Elect, CDMS Commission
President, OhioBLN
Manager, Disability Services,
Associate Health and Wellness, OhioHealth
614-566-1967
cmoranda@ohiohealth.com
© 2011 Certification of Disability Management Specialists Commission