HIGH QUALITY COMMUNITY ACTION

The Partnership sponsors three activities designed to foster high quality community action.

THE CERTIFIED COMMUNITY ACTION PROFESSIONAL (CCAP) establishes national quality standards for the field and recognizes those who demonstrate work at that level. CCAPs enhance the creditability of an agency's work; mentor other professionals who desire to improve their knowledge and skills and improve their professional marketability.

THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY ACTION is dedicated to recognizing excellence and perpetuating it nationwide among all CAAs. It represents the very best we have to offer - those organizational qualities that set Community Action Agencies apart from others when it comes to performance, community service, and overall excellence. The Award is modeled after the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, but it is tailored to the structure and mission of Community Action Agencies. Like the Baldrige Award, the Award for Excellence incorporates a national recognition component and as well as a learning/improvement component. A self-study requirement examines an applicant's best practices in seven organizational areas.

THE PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY ACTION is the Partnership's initiative to build the capacity of CAAs through learning and continuous improvement. Pathways uses the same tools as the Award for Excellence - the Community Action Standards of Excellence and a rigorous self-assessment process - to help CAAs foster an agency-wide environment of excellence and determine organizational strengths and opportunities for improvement.

CAAs enrolling in Pathways receive two days of training about the Standards and how to conduct an organizational self-study for up to three of their staff members. Enrollees also receive "Moving from Compliance to Excellence: A Guide for Conducting an Organizational Self-Study." Each CAA has nine months to complete a written self-study and submit it for peer review. Each Pathways CAA receives a comprehensive written feedback report to use as a roadmap on its journey toward excellence.

State Associations and State CSBG Offices may jointly sponsor Pathways to Excellence in their state as a capacity building initiative focusing on excellence. It is a voluntary and collaborative initiative that may be customized in each sponsoring state to include: flexible start times and CAA enrollment schedules, in-state training, and in-state support tailored to the needs of enrolled CAAs. Contact the Partnership for more information.

Pathways/Award Powerpoint Presentation