COA - Council On Accreditation

	Community Change Initiatives

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

Definition

Community Change Initiatives engage community stakeholders in a participatory process designed to improve an identified aspect of the community. Initiatives typically strive to develop local leadership, enhance social capital and personal networks, and strengthen the community’s overall capacity to accomplish tasks and goals. Organizations seeking accreditation for Community Change Initiatives (CCI) work collaboratively with community partners to facilitate this process.

Note: The Standards can accommodate both comprehensive and targeted community initiatives. For example, while one initiative might aim to promote broad-based change across all community dimensions, another might have a more targeted focus, such as promoting public safety or decreasing youth substance use.

Initiatives may also function somewhat differently depending on the type and origin of the initiative. For example, if the initiative is funded by a federal grant that stipulates the initiative’s focus and requires a certain level of involvement by the lead organization (i.e., the organization seeking accreditation), it may not be possible for the initiative to operate with as much autonomy as it might if it were a purely grassroots initiative.

Initiatives may cover a wide range of areas and seek a wide range of outcomes. Possible areas of focus include, but are not limited to: economic opportunity and security; physical development and infrastructure; safety and security; health and wellness, education; civic participation; cultural enrichment; and social capital.

Note: Many of COA’s Service Standards incorporate some of the principles that underlie community building. This section goes above and beyond, and is designed for organizations that play a more active and deliberate role in facilitating community change.

If an organization primarily builds and improves the community by providing services to individuals (e.g., by providing Workforce Development Services (WFD), or Case Management Services (CM)), the organization should complete the other section of standards. Organizations that provide services to individuals and play an active role in facilitating community change should complete both sections of standards. For example, an organization that promotes community change by both providing case management and convening community stakeholders should complete both CM and CCI.

Note: Organizations that provide technical assistance to community change initiatives have the option to complete only: CCI 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. Several of the practice standards within those core concepts also include NAs for technical assistance providers.

Note: Please see Self-Paced_Training: Community Change Initiatives (CCI) in the Tools Index for additional assistance with this standard.

Research Note: Community issues are often interconnected, and some literature suggests that they should be considered in a comprehensive manner. However, this does not necessarily mean that initiatives should attempt to address all community priorities at once. In contrast, recent literature suggests that it is not feasible to address all relevant issues simultaneously, and highlights the merits of incremental growth that responds to community needs and opportunities.


	PURPOSE: Community Change Initiatives mobilize the community for action; strengthen the capacity of residents and organizations; build and improve neighborhoods; and lay the groundwork for future progress.

RELATED FILES


	COMMUNITY A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.


	STAKEHOLDER Any person, group, or organization that has a vested interest in the services provided by the organization. Examples: clients, consumers, personnel, funding organizations, referral organizations, vendors, and governmental bodies.


	LEADERSHIP A nonprofit organization's leadership consists of its governing body, chief executive officer, and may also include its senior management. In a public agency the term refers to the agency head and administration team. The term "leadership" is not generally applied to for-profit organizations. With respect to COA standards, in for-profit organizations the term leadership applies to the owner and board of directors if one exists.


	ACCREDITATION The formal evaluation of an organization against accepted criteria or standards. A professional society, non-governmental organization, or a governmental agency may conduct accreditation activities. A COA-accredited organization has undergone a period of rigorous self-study and is capable of providing programs and services that meet or exceed COA standards.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	CASE A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.


	PRACTICE Established actions or ways of proceeding in the regular performance of organizational duties. Policies and procedures often guide practice.


	MANAGEMENT See ADMINISTRATION