A certified staff provides evidence of the value you place on the role of the direct care worker in service delivery. It means your staff will maintain a common knowledge base and residential care philosophy with consistently high values and practices. And certification means recognizable proficiency to placement organizations, licensing and accrediting agencies, funding sources, and the community at large. Certification is essential for the direct care worker's full inclusion in the multi-disciplinary teams that operate in today's residential facilities. It is necessary in their complex work with children, youth, and families.