News from CDMS/CCMC

THE COMMISSION FOR CASE MANAGER CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATION OF DISABILITY MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS COMMISSION

“You’ve Got This:” The Message to CCM and CDMS Exam Candidates—and All of Us

MaryBeth Kurland, MPA, CAE, ICE-CCP

In March and April 2022, the latest group of candidates were eligible to take the Certified Case Manager (CCM) and Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) examinations to pursue board certification. Just as in prior years, these candidates prepared themselves with study guides and other resources. For the first time, however, these candidates also received something else: an inspiring message that was relevant

to pursuing a professional certification in these challenging times.

A special “Push Pause” video reflection was sent out only to candidates with a message from the Commission for Case Manager Certification (the Commission): “As you get ready to take the exam, the Commission would like to invite you to pause, focus and be present.”

What followed was a one minute and thirty-second video featuring April Lewis, a mental fitness coach. Her opening words were directed to the candidates, addressing their mental and emotional state in the moment: “You may be experiencing a lot of emotions right now. Some may

be good, some not so good, both of which are okay because you’re human. But I am here to remind you to be present, to be focused and to be confident in your capabilities.”

In helping candidates focus, April reminded them that this examination is their priority—no matter what else is on their minds or where their attention wanted to wander. As encouragement, she shared with them her favorite quote: “Be where your feet are. Be very present this moment.”

Expanding on that theme, April reminded candidates that, in any situation in life, all they can expect of themselves is to do their personal best. “Regardless of how the outcome comes, regardless of what the result is, knowing that you’ve done your best, you can be pleased with you.” In the final moment before taking their examinations, April reminded the candidates that their priority was on staying focused on their goal: “…Take deep breaths, take your time, and give this exam all that you have.”

This particular Push Pause message, part of an ongoing series from the Commission to support all case managers and disability management specialists, was meant to speak especially to those pursuing certification,

which is widely recognized as a proxy for workforce readiness. Yet, at the same time, April’s wise words are a reminder for all of us, no matter what we are facing in our professional and personal lives. There will always be distractions and competing priorities that steer our attention in various directions. At times, the burden becomes overwhelming, and we don’t know how we’ll do it all. That’s when we come back to our center. We are prepared. All we can expect of ourselves is to do our best. Knowing that we’ve done our best is more important that any outcome.

Such messages bolster our resilience. The practice of Positive Psychology teaches us of the importance of resilience, describing it as

There will always be distractions and competing priorities that steer our attention in various directions. At times, the burden becomes overwhelming, and we don’t know how we’ll do it all. That’s when we come back to our center. We are prepared. All we can expect of ourselves is to do our best. Knowing that we’ve done our best is more important that any outcome.

MaryBeth Kurland, MPA, CAE, ICE-

CCP, is the CEO of the Commission for Case Manager Certification, the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 50,000 professional case managers and disability management specialists. The Commission oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM® credential and the process of disability management specialist certification with its CDMS® credential. continues on page 36