CDC Group Coaching Certificate Program - 2027

Event Dates: January 14 - July 8, 2027

Event Time: Every Thursday, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Central

Registrants must already be trained Lifestyle Coaches before registering. Please see the Technical Requirements tab for further eligibility requirements. 

Description

The Group Coaching Certificate Program is a six-month advanced training program designed to enhance the coaching skills of National DPP Lifestyle Coaches. Developed and tested by the CDC and the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC), this advanced training will equip coaches with the confidence necessary to effectively coach National DPP participants.

The program meets weekly and covers 24 coaching competencies and skills categorized into five areas:

• Category I: Building Trust, Rapport, and Intimacy, and Creating Coaching Presence
• Category II: Enhancing Communication Skills
• Category III: Applying Skills Specific to Groups
• Category IV: Cultivating Self-Management Skills
• Category V: Propelling Health Behavior Change

Program Benefits

• Access to CDC-approved training materials
• Earn Group Coaching Specialist certificate and designation upon successful completion of final exam
• Network with other Lifestyle Coaches and Master Trainers

Format

Each coaching skill/competency includes weekly online prework and a real-time virtual training session:

• The online lesson, consisting of a 10–30-minute video and knowledge-check questions, is completed prior to attending the live training session.
• Real-time virtual training sessions typically last between 60 and 120 minutes and provide an opportunity for coaches to practice the skill, ask questions, and receive feedback from the Master Trainers.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Describe strategies for building a positive coaching presence with National DPP lifestyle change program participants.
• Identify effective coaching communication techniques that can be utilized to motivate participants throughout the different stages of the program.
• Describe strategies that support lifestyle change program participants’ self-management skills (for example, to set goals, track behaviors, and problem-solve challenges on their own)
• Describe approaches to assess lifestyle change program participant progress including progression through the stages of change.
• Demonstrate effective team skills by using active communication techniques that foster active engagement with participants.
  

Bridget Jennings, RN, BAS, CDCES

Ms. Jennings has been involved with diabetes prevention and diabetes self-management for more than 30 years. She has served on the Florida Diabetes Advisory Council for 10 years. She is active with Florida Diabetes Alliance and Florida ADCE Education Program Planning.

Jacqueline V. Carson

Ms. Carson currently serves as the Coordinator for Community Health at Advocate Christ Medical Center and serves as a Master Trainer for the South Region of the Advocate Aurora Health System. In this current role she serves as the lead coordinator for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for three hospitals. Currently she is bringing awareness about the program through building relationships with community organizations, health departments and the faith community.
Ms. Carson's passion around diabetes prevention is driven by wanting to help educate all people about how making better choices will help them have a better quality of life.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) requires anyone in a position to affect or control continuing education content (e.g. authors, presenters, and program planners) to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. It is the responsibility of ADCES to mitigate and disclose all relevant conflicts of interest. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone bias in any presentation but is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of the presentation.

Relevant disclosures (or lack thereof) among educational activity planners and faculty are as follows:

Speakers

Jacqueline V. Carson has no relevant financial disclosures to report.

Bridget Jennings, RN, CDCES, has no relevant financial disclosures to report.

Planners

Jacqueline V. Carson has no relevant financial disclosures to report.

Bridget Jennings, RN, CDCES, has no relevant financial disclosures to report.

The approval of this educational offering by the ADCES does not imply endorsement of specific therapies, treatments, or products discussed in the presentations.

This certificate program is designed for Lifestyle Coaches with at least one year of experience facilitating the National DPP Lifestyle Change Program.

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

• You have completed Lifestyle Coach training and have delivered at least one full cohort and one full year of the National DPP Lifestyle Change Program;
• You are affiliated with an organization that holds pending, preliminary, full, or full plus CDC DPRP recognition;
• You have reliable access to a computer with a camera and internet;
• You can attend a live virtual class once per week over approximately 6 months.