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Parents Toolshop® Group Facilitator Certification is an Evidence-Based Parent Educator Training

Attention Speakers, Trainers, Family Life Educators, and Parenting Educators:
Get Your Parent’s Toolshop® GROUP FACILITATOR Certification and be Authorized to TEACH an Evidence-based Curriculum that Offers a Unique Customizable Parenting Plan Found Nowhere Else --- the Universal Blueprint® System

Remember Deanna?

After you are a Certified Parents Toolshop® Advisor, you can move on to TEACH Parents Toolshop® courses that feature the Universal Blueprint® Parenting Success System.

Remember Deanna? She became a Parents Toolshop® Advisor so she could use the coaching in her practice, but continued to get the rest of her Direct Service Provider certification --- Group Facilitator.

Because she already had the DSP certification, she got a full-time job as a parent support coordinator for a county child welfare agency.

With the marketing tools PTC taught, Deanna was able to increase the outreach of the programs being offered.  In a short time with consistent effort, they went from 30 classes serving only 100 people to 225 classes serving over 400 people.

Pre-requisites Needed to Advance to THIS Training

STEP 1 PRE-REQUISITE: GRADUATE FROM BOTH BASIC & ADVANCED T.I.P.S. COURSES

Sign up for the all-inclusive "TIPS4Leaders" discount bundle, which includes both the support & lifetime resources option.

Complete the training and post-test within 6 months or less, score 9+/11 points on parenting skill assessment, and become familiar with Parents Toolshop® resources (You get lifetime access as long as you are an Active GF!)

Then you can apply to begin Parents Toolshop® Leader Certification Programs.
Get the all-inclusive package

STEP 2: COMPLETE THE ADVISOR (COACH) TRAINING

Complete this quick, 5-lesson training, with observation and real-life practice.  Then you can be any or all of the following:
  • Private Parent Coach.
  • Group Coach (calls/webinars) for on-line Parents Toolshop® classes
  • Content Contributor for new parenting-niche-specific resources
  • Moderator of a niche-specific Facebook discussion group
While earning coaching fees, you'll gain experience so you can meet the performance standards to move on to this GF training.
Get More Info about Advisor Certification

Want to TEACH parent education programs using The Parent’s Toolshop® curriculum and its Proprietary Universal Blueprint® System?

The Parent’s Toolshop®  is a comprehensive practical skill-building parenting curriculum that has been proven successful in more than ten years of field tests with over 2000 parents and family-service professionals.

The Parent’s Toolshop® teaches a unique problem-solving process called the “Universal Blueprint®” that teaches parents how to prevent problems and find an individualized solution to those that arise.

Only certified Parents Toolshop® instructors are trained and authorized to teach this process to others. The Universal Blueprint® is so effective that parent educators can use the Universal Blueprint® and model its skills to  teach the process to parents. 
Parent’s Toolshop® instructors must do more than present parenting information; they are expected to conduct interactive activities, small group discussions, and practice exercises in their programs. In addition, they must market and evaluate their programs. These are all tasks not usually found through traditional social service education – but Parents Toolshop® instructor certification trains professionals to do all this.

To maintain the high quality and positive reputation of  The Parent’s Toolshop®, all potential Group Facilitators must pass stringent screening and complete a Parent’s Toolshop® parenting program (to learn/experience the curriculum) and other pre-requisites to be eligible to attend this specialized training.

There Are Two Training Format Options

THE CONTENT IS THE SAME FOR BOTH.

The in-person training is 3 days and may involve travel expenses for the applicant. If there are 4+ applicants in a geographic area who are ready for training, Jody Pawel will provide the training at their location if her travel expenses are covered. The training tuition fee is the same. If there are more than 4 people from one agency, group discounts are available. Live training programs may be videotaped to maintain ongoing updates to the on-line videos and to enhance other GF trainees’ learning experience. In live trainings, participants give a practice presentation to the other participants and get peer-reviewed evaluations.

The GF on-line training takes up to 6 weeks. (4 weeks to watch videos  of a live GF training and complete the workbook (about 2 videos/week) + 2 weeks to send in the practice video.) It is a virtual training, so we want the trainees to get the same level of personalized training the in-person trainees get, so Jody Pawel or a GF Certification Liaison will conduct face-to-face video chats every 2 videos, to process those lessons. In the video training option, participants videotape themselves presenting a practice presentation and other certified trainers give evaluations.

You Will Learn How to ... SPEAK/TEACH

We start by looking at the professional ethics and standards in the parent education field and for those who use our curriculum.

You learn how to get started, conduct needs assessments and make decisions about fees, discounts and more.

Then we dive into how to teach the curriculum, which teaches parents to think for themselves, using the unique “Universal Blueprint” and its practical skills to plan  individualized effective responses to any parenting challenge.

With teach Toolset, we review how to teach it AND how to use and model those tools as a group facilitator! THIS is THE most valuable aspect of THIS certification training YOU WON'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE or in any other curriculum

You'll learn how to teach a variety of Parent’s Toolshop® programs, from comprehensive “full-length” classes to one-shot topic programs – and custom-design each program, to meet the participants’ special or diverse needs.

Most importantly, you need to be a dynamic, entertaining and informative speaker, effective group discussion leader, and lead interactive activities that raise awareness while teaching skills, so you learn advanced presentation skills.


EVALUATE Your Programs

Evaluate participant skill improvement and custom-design outcome-focused evaluation tools, to track results, report successes and get funding!

Our evaluation tools were developed by a PhD Evaluation Specialist from the United Way specifically for our programs and have over 30+ years of outstanding outcome results.

(See detailed information about our evidence-based features on the Parents Toolshop® Leader Certification Process overview. Links to more details are there.)




MARKET Your Programs

You could be the most amazing parent educator in the world, but if no one knows you exist, can’t find you, can’t understand what you can do for them, then you are like a pearl inside a clam. That’s why Parents Toolshop® makes a lifetime commitment to its Leaders and teaches you how to successfully market your programs and services.

Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE, The Parents Toolshop® author, is considered the leading expert on ethical, effective marketing in the parent education and family life education field.

(Note: this part of the training is not approved for OH SW CEUs.)

Jody has 30 Years of Marketing & Media Experience

Jody is a second-generation parent educator and award-winning author of The Parent's Toolshop® book. For over 30 years, she has trained parents and professionals and served as an expert to the media, giving over 300 interviews or media placements. 

Jody knows how to market non-profit organizations. She founded a non-profit organization is still going strong 25 years later. She also coordinated a nonprofit prevention program for 10 years, starting it from scratch and taking it to  having waiting-lists within 1 year. 

Jody has trained with the leading author, speaker, on-line, media experts.

When her book went national in 1998, she has received comprehensive, advanced marketing training, served on the training teams of top marketing experts, and presented marketing workshops, articles and even textbook chapters on marketing for family life education professionals. 

What Others Say About Jody’s Marketing Expertise

Jody has been a Team Leader numerous times for all three of my training programs since 2005. She won the Outstanding Leadership Award in Product Factory, was a Team Leader for the first Web Traffic School, and I chose her to be the Team Leader’s Team Leader for the first team-based Book Yourself Solid program. She’s motivating, encouraging, and builds rapport and comradery among her teammates. She also offers such valuable, practical business and marketing advice that I’ve even asked her to fill in for me on a Mastermind training call. Anyone who attends Jody’s marketing training programs or is on her team will benefit greatly from her knowledge, guidance and leadership. 

Michael Port, creator of the Book Yourself Solid training program and best-selling book and internationally-reknown marketing expert

"You have moved me at least one quantum leap in my knowledge, if not several. This is a program-changing experience. You have taken me forward significantly in my comfort and desire to do this." (Actually, more was said in this call, but Jody's too humble to print it. CLICK HERE to listen to a 37-second clip from the call.) — Eve Sullivan, Parents Forum, MA (NEPI bonus call on “Writing Bonus Statements and Creating Digital Resources”)

 Marketing Magic is an information-packed workshop filled with practical tips and advice for marketing family programs. Jody is an excellent speaker and shares her years of experience in an entertaining manner that includes ample audience participation. The handouts alone are worth the cost of the seminar! — Dawn Cassidy, M.Ed., CFLE, Certification Director, National Council on Family Relations.


Thank you for the marketing workshop you provided to our … statewide staff. … Your information was timely as we make some slight shifts in our service delivery focus. … We received particularly positive feedback from the staff on the portion of your presentation that related to our existing web site. Your review of our current web site content and discussion of strategies to improve this information was extremely useful. Staff appreciated the tailoring of this topic to our specific information. It put the theory into practical application. … We look forward to implementing your ideas and may be contacting you again in the future for consultation as we develop additional materials. 

Debra D. Andersen, Chief, Child Guidance Service, Family Health Services, Oklahoma State Dept. of Health

North Carolina Parenting Institute’s Annual Conference, August 2003. Evaluations from Jody’s 1.5 hour marketing workshop showed participants gave Jody the top two highest ratings in the following areas:
  • 100% for her knowledge on marketing (77% gave it the highest rating),
  •  91% for the effectiveness of how she communicated the information (55% gave it the highest rating) and
  •  90% for the usefulness of the information (45% gave it the highest rating)

After the Training:

Upon completion of the GF certification training, you receive a certificate that verifies completion of the training course. (You may also receive CEU certificate: State of Ohio, Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage & Family Therapist Board Approval for 15 CEU's for Social Workers Approval #RSX012201.) 

NOTE: You must score 9+ or higher on the Leader Skill Assessment and get at least 80% Good or Excellent ratings on your presentation.

To get your Group Facilitator Certification and Activate your License, you must complete the following "probationary" requirements:
  • Teaching 4 hours of Toolshop® programming to at least 4 people, covering at least 3 toolsets.
  • Have each probationary program participant complete a program evaluation form
  • Submit a “Probation Report” (provided with the on-line training materials).
  • Complete these probation requirements within two years or forfeit your certification.
Once all the above requirements have been met, you receives final certification as a Parents Toolshop® Group Facilitator and have an Active license to teach.

You Also Receive the Rest of Your ALL-INCLUSIVE Training & Resource Package

The GF certification training fee is all-inclusive. All training materials are provided to you in digital format. You may optionally purchase hard copies of them (print books, CDs, DVDs) if you choose.

If you need any resources for your practice or probationary programs, we'll provide them to you early.

Otherwise, upon successfully completing the entire certification process and receiving your Active Certification License, you will receive access to every GF presentation resource that is available, again by digital download. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Outcome Evaluation Skill Assessment Tool
  • Interactive Activity Directions
  • Puzzle Masters (crosswords, seek & find, etc.)
  • Flip chart size House Blueprint poster
  • PowerPoint presentation file
  • Publicity Masters and aids
  • Class Graduation Certificate Master
  • Presentation outlines, handouts and PowerPoint slides for Parents Toolshop® programs, including: 
    • Lunchtime topic series (10 sessions)
    • Teens & Parents Together (6 week follow-up for graduates & their teens)
    • Teleseminar series to present live
    • Individual topic presentations, such as: backtalk, bedtime, bullies, difficult people, tantrums … and dozens more!
Jody literally has hundreds of topic presentations you can use and as she develops new programs for or with GFs, she shares them with other trainers!

EVERYONE Receives the SAME GF Training, but your LICENSE determines how you can USE it.

Agency Staff & Volunteer License



  • Provide Parents Toolshop® programs/services through the agency where you are an employee or volunteer, usually a non-profit organization serving low-income, high-risk parents.
  • Programs are offered free-of-charge or at-cost
  • You receive training/coaching in local, non-profit marketing
  • Can only use & deliver existing Parents Toolshop® programs/services
  • Get discounts for multiple staff
  • Certification/License ends if you leave the agency
  • Agency is an “Approved Provider”
  • Agency verifies it provides professional liability insurance
  • No minimum performance standards
$997 one-time lifetime certification training tuition for first agency staff, then $497 for each subsequent.

Parents Toolshop® Team License



  • Provide Parents Toolshop® programs/services representing Parents Toolshop®
  • May offer live local fee-based programs
  • Get training/coaching in local program marketing + a 6-hour GF marketing training with audio and slides ($297 value)
  • Can only use existing Parents Toolshop® resources & courses, but can qualify to become an RT Niche Expert to co-author new Toolshop® content.
  • Are part of the Parents Toolshop® Leader Team
  • Can use/leverage existing Parents Toolshop® website & e-commerce to deliver on-line Parents Toolshop® courses
  • RTITI provides professional liability insurance (included in the annual license renewal fee)
  • Minimum performance standards or pay $27/mo.
$1497 one-time lifetime certification training tuition

Independent Provider Franchise License

  • Provide existing Parents Toolshop® programs  representing your own private company.
  • You may offer local in-person fee-based programs, setting your own fees.
  • You, through your business, are an “Approved Provider.” You can co-brand our content, but cannot replace our branding with yours.
  • Can offer co-branded online Parents Toolshop® courses through RTITI e-learning platform or get a limited license to host on your site.  
  • Get training/coaching in local marketing + 6-hour GF marketing training ($297 value) + access to the "6 Steps for Starting & Growing YOUR Family Life Education Practice" course ($997 value)
  • You must obtain and retain your own professional liability insurance.
  • Minimum performance standards or pay $97/mo.
$2997 one-time lifetime certification training tuition 

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Take the pre-requisite TIPS courses

If you are already familiar with Parents Toolshop® and intend to pursue leader certification, you need to fully understand the Universal Blueprint® so you can use and teach it to others. If you intend to apply for leader certification after you graduate, you can get these courses as an all-inclusive discount bundle with personalized support. Once you graduate, you can apply for leader certification.
See the TIPS4Leaders Preview

Get Your Parents Toolshop® Advisor Certification

You must already be a Certified Advisor and met the minimum performance standards to advance to the Group Facilitator Training. 

If you don't know what those are, review the Standards & Practices Manual in the TIPS4Leaders discount bundle.

Then get more information about the Advisor Certification Training.
Get more info about Advisor Certification

Already an Advisor? Have Questions?

1. If you are taking the "TIPS4Leaders" all-inclusive discount training & resource package, just following the tabs at the bottom of the checklist.
2. Before you apply to move on to GF, re-read the GF sections of the Standards & Practices Manual. 
3. Then talk to Jody about starting GF cert.
Schedule a Strategy Session