Updated May 2023

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Section 1: Introduction

The Trainee is a college graduate and/or licensed professional who, having previously obtained significant education, skills, training, and experience, wishes to receive supervision and training from RDIconnect, Inc. in order to qualify for Relationship Development Intervention® ("RDI®") Program Certification; a status that can be bestowed only by Dr. Gutstein and/or Dr. Sheely. Parents of a child on the spectrum may apply for admission into the certification program after completing a minimum of six months documented RDI® Program work with their own child on the RDI Learning Community Platform under the supervision of a Trainee or Consultant and submission of a letter from the trainee/consultant with whom they have worked stating readiness for training. This contract stipulates the conditions under which RDIconnect, Inc. will engage in ongoing supervision and training and will provide RDI® Program Certification status to Trainee. This contract does not imply any other relationship between RDIconnect, Inc. and Trainee other than RDI® Program Certification. RDI Standard of Ethics is basic to this relationship between Trainee/Consultant and family. In this regard, ethical and professional licensure guidelines assume precedence over the contractual agreements within this document. In providing RDI® Program Certification, RDIconnect, Inc. does not provide any assurance of the quality of clinical work of Trainee. Nor, does RDIconnect, Inc. provide any assurance about the standards of conduct of Trainee. This contract does not provide any limitations or restrictions on the Trainee's services, other than those directly related to the provision of Relationship Development Assessment (RDA™) and RDI® Programs. The execution of this contract does not indicate that the Trainee is certified by RDIconnect, Inc. to provide RDA™ or RDI® Program Services; certification is granted and acknowledged only upon completion of all requirements, and shall be documented only by a Certificate of RDI® Program Certification signed by Dr. Steven Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely. 

Section 2: RDIconnect, Inc. Acknowledgements and Agreements

RDIconnect, Inc. agrees to provide certification in RDA™ and RDI® Program to Trainee after the satisfactory completion of RDIconnect, Inc. Certification process (or Re-Certification process as provided in paragraph 3J below). "Satisfactory completion" of the certification or recertification process means that RDIconnect, Inc. has determined, in its sole and absolute discretion, that Trainee demonstrates proficiency with every component of the training and/or current protocol process and information.

 

Should RDIconnect, Inc. determine that Trainee is not exhibiting proficiency with a component of the training process or compliance with protocol, including exclusive work with subscribed clients on the platform, RDIconnect, Inc. will communicate instructions to Trainee regarding proficiencies which Trainee is lacking and for which Trainee must demonstrate satisfactory completion to earn certification or recertification.

 

2A. Supervision includes the satisfactory completion of a series of fourteen (14) projects. It is expected that Trainee will submit and exhibit mastery of projects every two weeks. The maximum time for completion of all 14 supervision projects is eighteen (18) months.  

 

2B. If a supervisor does not see proficiency, Trainee is allowed one redo per project before it is considered failed. Two project failures will result in no monetary penalty. A third failed Project indicates a significant obstacle in learning and will require additional time for supervisor to customize additional supervision to get Trainee back on track.

 

2C. Additional supervision, if necessary, will be based on the following current fee schedule (Redo of Project 3 or 14 will incur a $400 fee). This fee schedule is subject to change at the sole and absolute discretion of RDIconnect, Inc. with or without notification.

 

Professional Training 1:$2500 
Professional Supervision: $3500
Professional Training 2: $2500
Redo Supervision Project 3:RDA™ $400
Redo Supervision Project 14: $400
Additional Supervision, if necessary $800
A third failed Supervision Project indicates a significant obstacle in learning and will require additional time for supervisor to craft six new projects that are customized and designed to get a CIT back on track.

Recertification $400

Section 3: Trainee Acknowledgements and Agreements

Trainee agrees to the following conditions of RDI® Program Certification. Agreement to these conditions in no way limits Trainee from providing any services in any manner he or she sees fit, other than RDA™ and RDI® Program. Trainee agrees that failure to adhere to these conditions can result in immediate revocation of RDI® Program Certification by RDIconnect, Inc.

 

3A1. Trainee must successfully complete Professional Training Course Part I and Professional Training Course Part II as well as professional supervision. Following the satisfactory completion of all lessons of RDI™ Professional Training 1, Trainee may use term of Consultant-In-Training (CIT), for a period and not to exceed 18 months. Trainee agrees to begin professional supervision within six months of the final day of Professional Training Course Part I. Eighteen months following the completion of RDI™ Training 1, trainee will be declared inactive and no longer eligible to refer to themselves either in writing or social media as a CIT. Reinstatement into the certification process will require a reasonable fee (See 2C) as well as demonstration that Trainee has kept up to date with the evolution of the current RDI® Program through retaking Professional Training Course Part 1 as well as completion of the homework by RDIconnect, Inc. Following an 'inactive' status of more than two and a half years, Trainee will be required to reapply to the certification process and complete all aspects of current certification requirements.

 

3A2. Trainees have 2-3 weeks for each project. For project 2 - 4 (The RDA) they have 2 weeks for each of the 3 parts. Total of 6 weeks for 2, 3 and 4.

 

3A3. Trainees can apply for 2, 6 week extensions between projects during supervision (this is in addition to the regular 2-3 weeks time frame)

 

3A4. If the extensions are more than 6 weeks and/or happen a third time, an ‘inactive status’ will be imposed on trainees.

 

3A5. To get back to active status, trainees will have to restart supervision (with the same or new family) commencing with project 2. There will be an additional fee for the extra supervision at the rate of $250 per project from where the trainee left off. For example: if the trainee left off from project 4, then an extra charge of $750 will be applied- for projects 2, 3 and 4.

 

3A6. Project 14 (case study) will be the last project. Trainees will have 6 months to complete the last project, which is the case study project.

 

3B. Trainee agrees to adhere to and not violate in any way RDIconnect, Inc.'s intellectual property rights, including copyright and trademark, with regard to any materials printed, taped or otherwise presented, without prior written permission from RDIconnect, Inc.

 

3C. Trainee will make no claims to have expertise in conducting training and/or supervision of other professionals wishing to gain expertise in RDA™ and/or RDI® Program. Staff under the employ and/or supervision of Trainee will also make no claims of expertise in RDA™ or RDI® Program, unless they have received RDI® Program Certification directly from RDIconnect, Inc. Trainee will be held responsible for false claims made by staff under his/her direct supervision and/or employ.

 

3D. Trainee will not engage in the supervision of any person for the purposes of training them to provide clinical services in RDA™ or RDI® Program.

 

3E. Trainee agrees to use the terms RDA™ and RDI® Program to refer to his/her paid services only if all of the following conditions are being met:

 

3E1. Trainee has conducted a full RDA™ assessment of Trainee's client(s) as stipulated by existing current protocols of RDIconnect, Inc., and

 

3E2. Trainee is conducting RDI® Program based upon the most recent RDIconnect, Inc. intervention protocols and agrees that s/he will not work with families past completed supervision. By example, a trainee working with a non-supervised family would only do an RDA following satisfactory completion of supervised RDA.

 

3F. Trainee acknowledges that he or she will make no claims about expertise in conducting intensive RDI® Program parent workshops and groups and is not certified to provide such interventions. Thus, all information regarding provision of services, whether written, verbal or electronic, to include website, will clearly state that the trainee is under supervision and is in training to become a consultant.

 

3G. Trainee agrees to perform and represent RDA™ and RDI® Program based upon the latest theoretical and methodological protocols developed by RDIconnect, Inc. Trainee shall be responsible for maintaining up to date information evolution on the learning system of RDIconnect, Inc. to obtain the latest materials.

 

3H. Trainee agrees to make his or her best effort to participate in the ongoing RDI® Program outcome research project based on needs and requirements as identified by RDIconnect, Inc.

 

3I. Trainee must continue to strictly follow protocol as designated by RDIconnect, Inc. This means that all RDI Program work occurs on the subscribed Learning Community Platform. (The individual public subscription may not be used as a substitute for the Family Group Subscription on the Learning Platform) Fees associated with evolution to the protocol will be reasonably set by RDIconnect, Inc. Once Trainee is granted Consultant status, he/she must continue to strictly follow this evolving protocol.

 

3J. Trainee understands that Certification is provided for a 12 month basis, beginning on the day the Certificate of RDI® Program Certification is issued. The Consultant must apply for, pay the fee for re-certification which is or shall be determined by RDIconnect, Inc., and be accepted by RDIconnect, Inc. for re-certification on a yearly basis, to obtain re-certification. RDIconnect, Inc. reserves the right to decertify Consultant or to deny re-certification to any Consultant based upon it's evaluation of the Consultant's qualifications. If Consultant fails to achieve any of the below listed conditions in the subparts to this paragraph, Consultant may be decertified at the sole and absolute discretion of RDIconnect, Inc. and notice of such de-certification may be published on the RDIconnect, Inc. website or in other RDIconnect, Inc. materials, at the sole and absolute discretion of RDIconnect, Inc. Re-certification will be granted based upon current protocol and compliance with all conditions within the body of this document, including the following conditions:

 

3J1. The Consultant has not received any official reprimand or loss of licensure from a State or National certifying body related to his/her field of specialization,

 

3J2. The Consultant has not violated any of the provisions specified in Section 3 of this contract,

 

3J3. The Consultant has not been indicted or convicted for any Felony offense,

3J4. Consultant understands and complies with protocol that requires any family using an RDI program to be actively subscribed to the RDI Learning Community using the Family Group subscription Consultant further agrees to abide by this requirement and will not work with RDI families outside this system,

 

3J5. The Consultant has conducted him or herself in a professional manner and has followed all of the ethical standards of conduct specified by RDIconnect, HIPAA, the American Psychological Association, personal licensure boards including standards for confidentiality, record keeping, in session behavior, Consultant Client boundaries and community conduct,

 

3J6. RDIconnect, Inc. will charge a reasonable non refundable fee, to be paid in advance, for engaging in the re-certification process,

 

3J7. Consultant has maintained compliance with evolutions of RDI® Program protocol by active involvement in the RDI Learning Community including participation in webinars and e-learning and keeping up with the latest versions of the RDI Program.

 

3J8. Consultant agrees that all material within the RDI® Learning Community is proprietary, and that it is both illegal and unethical to use it outside of the RDIconnect protocol, which occurs exclusively online between consultant and family. Consultant will be in violation of copyright or trademark for using, copying or distributing any Goals, Objectives, Assignments, Expert Knowledge, videos or Notebooks. This casual use of principles when working with families is covered as well.

 

3J9. Consultant has maintained and submitted proof of liability insurance.

 

3J10 Consultant maintains the right to appeal the denial of re-certification. An appeal automatically allows a rotating panel of consultants to access consultant work with a family. In this regard, RDI will contact, per the agreement of the consultant’s families to procure auditing privileges for a specific, stated period of time.

Please see Attached “Letter of Appeal”

 

3J11 A $150 preliminary charge will be assessed for an initial appeal and review with subsequent charges of $150 assessed for follow-up requests for review.

Section 4: Limitations and Disclaimers

Trainee/Consultant and RDIconnect, Inc. agree to the following terms:

 

4A. Limitation of Liability, Indemnification: Trainee/Consultant hereby accepts all liability for care of Trainee/Consultant's Clients, whether or not Trainee/Consultant used RDI® Program or RDA™ tools in the care of Trainee/Consultant's Clients, and affirms the following understandings:

 

4A1. RDIconnect, Inc.'s liability for any claims or damages resulting from or in any way connected to this contract is limited to and based upon the training given to Trainee/Consultant under this contract.

 

4A2. Trainee/Consultant acknowledges and agrees that RDIconnect, Inc.'s liability under this contract will be limited to the consideration paid under this contract and in no way will RDIconnect, Inc. be liable for any of Trainee/Consultant's consequential damages.

 

4A3. Trainee/Consultant expressly agrees to indemnify RDIconnect, Inc. for any claims, losses, causes of action and attorneys' fees resulting from Trainee/Consultant's treatment of Clients, including any treatment of Clients by Trainee using RDI® Program or RDA™ methods. Trainee further agrees to defend RDIconnect, Inc. against any such claims, losses or causes of action.

 

4B. Disclaimer of Warranties: RDIconnect, Inc. hereby disclaims any and all express and implied Warranties except as provided in paragraph 4B1 below, including the Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose, associated with the training provided under this contract. RDIconnect, Inc. neither warrants nor guarantees that Trainee/Consultant's treatment of Clients will be successful, nor does RDIconnect, Inc. provide any warranty regarding the level of success to be achieved by application of the training provided under this contract. Trainee//consultant expressly acknowledges that no Warranties are being provided and accepts such training. Trainee//consultant further affirms that:

 

4B1. Under this contract, RDIconnect, Inc. is providing only the training and the certification detailed herein, and RDIconnect, Inc. hereby only warrants that upon certification, the Trainee has successfully completed the course of training in RDI® Program and RDA™ protocols.

 

4B2. Results of applying the training provided under this contract may and will vary depending on Trainee Consultant's client(s) and Trainee/Consultant's skills and experience. Trainee/Consultant has received significant training in client care other than and prior to the RDI® Program Certification training and Trainee does not rely on the RDI® Program training and Certification to be effective on all client or outside the parameters of provided training. RDIconnect, Inc. is not warranting or offering any guarantee whatsoever that Trainee/Consultant's treatment of any client will be successful, or that the protocols will work in all cases. RDIconnect, Inc. does not make any representation or warranty regarding the level of success achievable for Trainee Consultant's Clients by use of the RDI® Program training.

Section 5: Consideration and Miscellaneous

5A. Consideration: In consideration of the agreed upon fees, as provided in the attached schedule which is hereby incorporated into and made a part of this contract, paid in full by Trainee/Consultant to RDIconnect, Inc., RDIconnect, Inc. shall provide the RDI® Program certification and re-certification under the terms and conditions provided herein. Fees for seminars and supervision are non-refundable but may be transferable in emergency situations which must be agreed to between Trainee/Consultant and RDIconnect, Inc. In the event of a request for an emergency based transfer of the fees, RDIconnect, Inc. will transfer only a pro-rated amount of the fee based on the services already provided by RDIconnect, Inc. at the time of the requested emergency transfer. RDIconnect, Inc. will retain an additional three hundred dollar ($300.00 USD) administrative fee to cover expenses associated with the transfer request.

 

5B. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties. Any oral representations or understandings concerning this Agreement shall be of no force and effect. This Agreement may only be modified in writing to be signed by all parties to this Agreement.

 

5C. Should RDIconnect, Inc. be forced to employ an attorney to enforce its rights or Trainee/Consultant's obligations associated with this contract, Trainee/Consultant agrees to pay the reasonable attorney fees and costs of RDIconnect, Inc.

 

5D. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of all the respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

5E. This Agreement shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of Harris County, Texas for any lawsuit or legal action relating to this Agreement.

The parties understand and agree to the forgoing conditions, and execute this contract as follows:

The following will be signed by an RDI® Employee after application has been submitted and reviewed, if approved.