Proposed Accreditation Model

In response to the changing nature of camps and the contemporary trends of volunteerism, a Visitor Task Force was commissioned in the fall of 2012 with these desired outcomes:

• Generate ideas for developing accreditation models that will expand the camps and programs involved in ACA's accreditation program, including systems that recognize legitimate levels of professionalism. Identify how these models would affect the visitor system.
• Define the components of a visitor system that preserves rigor and complements today's volunteer environment designed to accommodate an increasing number of camps and programs and adapt to new models for accreditation.

The Task Force made the following recommendation on a proposed accreditation model and that recommendation was accepted by the NSC in January 2013. This recommendation continues to stress the rigor, integrity, and education of the current accreditation model.

RECOMMENDATION

After a camp has successfully completed two accreditation visits, they can potentially move to a five year cycle if the camp meets established criteria. All currently accredited camps would have the opportunity to move to a five year cycle as long as the established criteria were met. A five year cycle is common in the accreditation world.

Suggestions from the Task Force about the Model: NOTE: these suggestions come from the task force's work, however it is important to remember that this is a list of POTENTIAL items
To maintain the five-year cycle, a camp must meet the following:

• No significant change in key leadership/owner/management team (a change is a seasonal director would NOT necessarily prompt a change in cycles although the seasonal director would be required to complete, at minimum, an online course regarding the purpose of ACA accreditation, etc.) Once the criteria were more refined/determined, it would be left to the discretion of the local area if a camp were to be on a three-year or five year cycle - as it is now with an out-of-cycle visit.
• There have been no complaints lodged against the camp resulting in action by the local leadership, the NSC, or the Ethics Commission.
• Must not have any failing scores when visit does occur. The local leadership will be provided with a set of criteria/parameters that, if met, would allow a camp to maintain the five year cycle. As always, a camp could appeal to the NSC. Once a camp fails a visit, they go back to the three year visit cycle.
• Be willing to provide a Visitor at the Associate level. We will need to develop parameters for this, such as: The camp is exempt from this requirement if they operate for less than four weeks, have less that x number full-time employees, etc.

What must be done/completed by the camp in non-visit years: NOTE: Again these suggestions come from the task force's work and again should be considered as starting points

• Completion of a "standards refresher" or other professional development piece specific to the standards in a designated year by a designated date. Tying professional development and accreditation together increases the educational value of the accreditation program.
• Submission of paperwork for any new programs being added during the non-visit years by a set date
• Completion of paperwork/checklist indicating WHEN and by what process all standards were reviewed for compliance for that specific year and years prior (like the "old OM-5.)
• Annual Statement of Compliance due by June 1

EXAMPLE of what might be required in a five-year cycle:

• 2013: Accreditation Visit, SOC due by June 1
• 2014: Professional Development (PD) related specifically to standards, SOC both completed by June 1
• 2015: Paperwork/Checklist and SOC completed by June 1
• 2016: PD related specifically to standards, SOC both completed by June 1 (might be a standards refresher course).
• 2017: SOC due by June 1, Standards Course
• 2018: Standards Course if not taken previously; Accreditation Visit, SOC

Action to date regarding input on the proposed model:

• Task Force members solicited feedback from camp directors/visitors throughout their process
• Two focus groups were held at the ACA National Conference in Dallas
• ACA Field and Affiliate staff provided input on two conference calls
• ACA legal counsel has reviewed the proposal

NEXT STEPS

• Continue the research/discovery phase by gathering input from ACA camps directors and volunteers through both formal and informal methods
• Contact various state licensing agencies to determine how/if a change in the ACA accreditation cycle will impact the status of ACA accreditation in their state.
• NSC will review and consider feedback/comments/suggestions at their September meeting

KNOWN

It is important to note that for any change in the accreditation model, work would be completed to "revise" the standards to better suit the model. This does not mean the intent of the standards would change, what is asked and how compliance is demonstrated might change. Also, this proposal is just that, a framework from which to work and permission to think about the look of the accreditation process for the future.

Please direct any questions/concerns in the comment box below, or to: Rhonda Mickelson, ACA Director of Standards – rmickelson@acacamps.org 765 349 3306 or Incoming NSC Chair, Judith Bevan – bevanjk@gmail.com 828-264-9348.