Certified Community Action Professional Program CCAP

1. Certified Community Action Professional Program (CCAP)

2. The only national, peer review based, recognition of community action managers and leaders. Based on input from over 150 Community Action leaders in the field. Oversight by the 9 member Certification Commission appointed by the Partnership Board Chair

3. COMMISSIONERS: Karen Lueck, CCAP, Nebraska, chair Bill Breidinger, CCAP Emeritus, New York Lois Carson, CCAP, California Janice Daku, CCAP, Maine Paul Dole, CCAP, Kentucky Charles McCann, CCAP Emeritus, Missouri Jerralynn Ness, CCAP, Oregon Janice Riley, CCAP, Georgia Winston Ross, CCAP, New York

4. Based on two �pillars� The Community Action Body of Knowledge Outline: A five section list of knowledge and skills which community action managers and leaders need to function in a position of leadership in their community and agency The Community Action Code of Ethics: A standard for professional behavior that guides the decisions a community action leader make.

5. Validates the achievements of community action managers and leaders Provides visibility and recognition Transmits basic values, knowledge and essential skills to a new generation of community action managers and leaders Establishes professional standards Enhances the Community Action public service image Improves opportunities for professional advancement.

6. Is it for me? If you are� a current, or emerging, manager or leader in the profession of Community Action. employed full time in a community action agency, a delegate agency, a sub-grantee, a CSBG eligible entity, state CSBG office, a state or regional CAA Association. AND---

7. Committed to the vision and values of Community Action Committed to maintaining high ethical standards of professional conduct. Willing to learn more about the history, vision and values of Community Action as well as�. The principles of good management The best practices of 21st Century leadership The current theories about poverty in America

8. Then CCAP may be right for you!

9. What are the steps? It is based on a point system�.. 1. Complete a Candidate Data Form (CDF) A detailed record of your experience, education and involvement in Community Action. Evaluated and scored (earn up to 500 �points�) The longer you have been in Community Action and the more active you have been, the better your score. Due 3rd Wed. of January each year.

10. 2. Submit an Executive Skills Portfolio (ESP) A sample of work showing how you have applied the vision and values of Community Action in your work setting. Evaluated and scored (earn up to 500 �points.�) Due 3rd Wed. of February each year

11. 3. Pass the national Certification Examination After you have received a total of at least 700 �points� on your CDF and ESP combined. (within 3 years ) Exam given 3rd Wednesday of June each year at various sites across the country Based on the Community Action Body of Knowledge Outline Is experience based (NOT memorization based) A study guide is sent out each January. Passing = score of 70%

12. Will there be help for me if I choose to become a candidate? Yes, a CCAP can serve as your mentor who can: Assist you with your Candidate Data Form. Help you prepare your Executive Skills Portfolio Provide guidance in preparing for the exam

13. Some helpful reminders: Candidacy lasts for three years, About half of candidates complete it in the first year. Many take the full three years to build points. The program is designed to provide opportunities for persons who have �come up through the ranks� as well as those who are new to Community Action. There is help All the forms you need are on the Partnership website. A mentor can be available to work with you. There is a study guide for the examination

15. Pay certification fee (see Partnership website for options and details) Three letters of reference Sign the Community Action Code of Ethics

16. CANDIDATE DATA FORM

17. Candidate Data Form

18. Position Worksheet for 1.1 To qualify for points, position must fulfill 3 of the 5 following Makes decisions about how to manage one or more programs. Supervises at least one other employee. Reports directly to the agency�s board or to a board committee or to the Executive Director/CEO. Administers a budget. Member of the Executive Team. Worksheet is signed by candidate and supervisor or hiring authority

19. EDUCATION

20. EDUCATION

21. EDUCATION

22. Involvement in National, Regional, State and Local CAA Activities

23. Involvement in National, Regional, State and Local CAA Activities

24. Involvement in Publishing and Training and in Assoc . Mgmt. Outside Community Action

25. THE EXECUTIVE SKILLS PORTFOLIO (ESP)

26. THE ESP HAS TWO SECTIONS: 1. A Sample of work showing how you have applied management and leadership skills, as well as, the vision and values of Community Action in your work setting. 2. Four essays in which you relate your work to the Body of Knowledge outline

27. THE ESP is� Evaluated and scored to earn you up to 500 �points� toward the 700 you need to qualify to take the CCAP examination Due 3rd Wednesday of February

28. ESP Details (the Work Sample) 1. Must be your own work 2. The work must have been done within three years of the date of your application. 3. Must demonstrate your management choices (planning, organizing, directing & evaluating)

29. 4. Attached to the work sample you submit, there must be no more than three typed double spaced pages providing the following information: a. The exact purpose or goals of the work. b. A description of your role in producing the work. c. The budget for the work, if applicable. d. Any documents coming from the work which show results, such as statistical reports, letters, newspaper articles and the like.

30. The Four Essays (750 words maximum for each) ESSAY #1 Traditional Management Skills: Explain how the work sample shows that you understand and can use traditional management practices in the specific areas of planning, organizing, directing and evaluating.

31. ESSAY #2 �Positive Leadership� skills has two parts: 1. How has that style helped you as a leader in an organization? 2. How has that style limited your role as a leader in an organization? Or How could that style limit your role as a leader in an organization.

32. ESSAY #3: Explain how the work sample shows that you understand, and have used, the vision and values of community action.

33. ESSAY #4: Demonstrate how your work sample contributes to your agency�s attainment, or enhancement, of one of the Partnership�s �standards of excellence,� or how it has the capacity to contribute to that standard. (find standards on the Partnership website)

34. GUIDANCE ABOUT YOUR SUBMISSION: Make sure that you refer to specific pages in your work sample when you answer questions about it. If the evaluator cannot determine what you did (either by yourself, or doing your part in the team's effort) your work sample will be disqualified. If the evaluator cannot determine that the work was done within the required three year limit your work will be disqualified.

35. ESP FORMAT FIRST: The descriptive materials 1. The purpose of the work 2. Your role in the work 3. The budget (if any) 4. Any documents or reports on results THEN: The document which describes the work FINALLY: The four essays

36. Candidates are eligible to take the CCAP examination when they have accumulated 700 points on the CDF and ESP combined.

37. Administered on the 3rd Wednesday of June Composed of questions written and tested by Community Action leaders in the field Mostly objective (multiple choice, T/F etc. Some essays in which candidate is asked to apply management and leadership skills to make choices. In sum, it is based more on application of knowledge than memorization of facts

38. Give in two sections � totals four hours Scored by CCAP Commission late June Based on the 5 sections of the Body of Knowledge Outline

39. Section One of the Exam (1.5 hours) A: History of Community Action B: Vision and Values of Community Action C. Traditional Management Skills Section Two of the Exam (2.5 hours) D: 21st Century Leadership Skills E: Theories of Poverty New Hope Case Study Questions

40. PASSING SCORE 700 out of a possible 1000 points

41. Candidates informed about whether they have qualified once there is a CDF on file and their ESP has been scored (No scores are given to candidates for CDF alone)

42. PREPARATION FOR THE EXAMINATION: A study guide is developed early each year. The guide contains the sources used for all the questions on the examination and is set up to correlate to the Body of Knowledge Outline. Anyone who has a CDF on file receives the outline in late January each year.

43. Will there be help for me if I choose to become a candidate? Yes, a CCAP can be appointed to be your mentor who can: Assist you with your Candidate Data Form. Help you prepare your Executive Skills Portfolio Provide guidance in preparing for the exam CCAP moderated Candidate groups can be set up. Contact the CCAP office about this option.

44. Some helpful reminders: Candidacy lasts for three years, About half of candidates complete it in the first year. Many take the full three years to build points. And you can retake the exam if necessary The program is designed to provide opportunities for persons who have �come up through the ranks� as well as those who are new to Community Action. There is help All the forms you need are on the Partnership website. A mentor can be assigned to work with you. There is a study guide for the examination

45. Pay certification fee (see Partnership website for options and details) Three letters of reference Sign the Community Action Code of Ethics

46. DOES CCAP BELONG AT THE END OF YOUR NAME?