III. The Evolution of a Field-Driven Initiative

Introduction
After the adoption of the Strategic Plan in 1995, LVA formed a task force to respond to network needs identified by the planning process and to move the LVA Strategic Plan forward. The task force, coordinated through the LVA National program development department, consisted of field representatives, staff, and two board members. Its over-arching goal was to transform the Accreditation concept from a field mandate into a reality.

How would this be achieved? Given the diversity of the LVA network and the literacy field, it was clear that the focus must be on service delivery rather than teaching methodology or organizational structure. The process must be inclusive rather than exclusive. Our approach is to maximize accountability while encouraging innovation, continuously improving the quality of the services provided.

The Accreditation Initiative, therefore, will:

• Identify best demonstrated practices. Accreditation will create a mechanism for the communication of best demonstrated practices throughout the literacy service field.
• Create standards which are synonymous with excellence in literacy services. Building from identified best demonstrated practices, Accreditation will raise the acceptable performance threshold for both LVA affiliates and other literacy providers, responding to the field�s need to be accountable to funders, the government, and the public. LVA Accreditation will become the �Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval� for adult volunteer literacy providers.
• Provide support to enable literacy programs to attain and maintain new, higher standards. LVA recognizes the local autonomy of its affiliates. While LVA National creates the standards, local programs have the responsibility of developing the systems and policies to meet them. As part of the Accreditation Initiative, LVA National will provide high quality technical assistance through its state and mid-level system to enable the affiliates to meet this challenge.

The Standards of Affiliation
The Accreditation Task Force began the process by developing Standards of Affiliation with the involvement of LVA state directors, LVA state liaisons, LVA Volunteers in Technical Assistance (V.I.T.A.s), affiliate representatives, and members of the Curriculum/Field Services Committee.

No one standard defines a local organization. It is important to view each standard in relationship to others, as collectively these standards represent quality assurance at the local level.

All levels of the organization will be accountable for maintaining the standards, which will ensure high quality services and organizational management. Meeting LVA Accreditation requirements thus will demonstrate a commitment to excellence. As an intrinsic part of LVA Accreditation, Benefits of Affiliation will accrue to programs which successfully complete the Accreditation process. As a result, currently non-aligned organizations will view LVA�s Mission and Core Values, Standards and Benefits of Affiliation, and technical assistance and support as significant reasons for becoming accredited.

While these standards will generally upgrade the network, they will not necessarily be representative of the work being accomplished by the most well-developed programs. For this reason, there will be a separate �exemplary� designation, which will be available only to accredited members. In the process of delineating best demonstrated practices, we will identify those practices which qualify programs as exemplary. The �exemplary� designation will be, in and of itself, a Benefit of Affiliation. Members which achieve the designation may use it to enhance fundraising and public relations. It will also serve as a mechanism to �raise the floor� in standards for all literacy programs, encouraging every volunteer literacy organization to excel.

The LVA Board approved Standards of Affiliation in July, 1996.

The Members of Accreditation Task Force were:
Margie Oppenheimer, Executive Director, LVA-NJ
Janice Cuddahee, Field Services Director, LVA-NYS
Anne DuPrey, Executive Director, LVA Nassau County, NY
Claudia Horn, LVA National Board
Vikki Jo Stewart, Chair, Curriculum/Field Services Committee, LVA National Board
Patricia Johnston, V.I.T.A., LVA-NJ
Patricia P. Rajala, Executive Director, LVA Westchester County, NY
Coordinator: Marty Angelone, Vice President of Program Development, LVA National

The Accreditation Plan and Budget
The task force�s next goal was to determine what training, technical assistance, and materials would be needed by the affiliates and the mid-level to be able to meet the Standards of Affiliation.

Once again, this was a field-driven process. The task force met with affiliates at the LVA national conference in October, 1996 and at regional meetings in Connecticut, Indiana, and New Jersey � sixty affiliates in all. The information gained from this intense research enabled the task force to develop the Accreditation plan and budget.

The Central Role of the Mid-Level System
Key to the Accreditation plan is the LVA mid-level system. The focus of LVA affiliates is to provide training and support for tutors and students. This must be done at the local level to be effective. But the affiliates, in turn, need training and support to provide services to their communities. In the LVA network, this support is provided by the mid-level system. Mid-level support, provided through our state offices and state liaisons, ensures that programs receive the technical assistance and training they need. As we launch an initiative that is as all-encompassing and mission-critical as Accreditation, our mid-levels will play a central role: facilitating the implementation of national policies at the "front lines" – the affiliates.