The NIQCA helps CAAs establish a practical, sustainable, and cost-effective program of continuous quality improvement. NIQCA management support services for local CAAs include:

• Best Practice Management Standards for local CAAs and tools to conduct a comprehensive, 12-step self-assessment and improvement planning process.
• A Team of Peer Reviewers who visit CAAs as part of their self-assessment process to independently review policies and evaluate organizational strengths and weaknesses.
• A Quality Improvement Toolkit that provides planning templates and model policies to assist local CAAs in strengthening their management and governance practices.
• Regional Trainings and a "Bank of Experts" to offer support and assistance to local CAAs.
• Resources to Support Regional CAA Planning, Collaboration, and Crisis Intervention.

In the News

NIQCA Advisory Board Officers Elected. At the May 18, 2011 meeting of the NIQCA Advisory Board, Joe Diamond, Executive Director of MASSCAP, Inc. was elected to serve a 1-year term as Board Chairman, and Rhonda Evans, Deputy Director, CAFCA, Inc. was elected to serve a 1-year term as Vice Chairman. NIQCA Advisory Board members include: Edith Karsky, CAFCA, Inc.; Kathleen McDermott, MOC, Inc.; Gerald Bell, MA DHCD; Anthony Judkins, CT DSS; Susan Curran, Brandeis University; Reed Risteen, Blum and Shapiro; Toni Hirst, New Opportunities, Inc.; Paul Puzzo, Emeritus Board Director; and Sandra Hawes, MA DHCD.

"Community Action Board Training: Embracing Values and Assuring Accountability" Available to Local CAAS.
Effective CAA governance has never been more important considering the growing demands for accountability and transparency in a fast changing funding environment. Understanding Board responsibilities, funder regulations and strategies for strengthening board participation and productivity are critical elements to helping the agency maintain a capacity to provide essential services to low income children, families and adults. The NIQCA offers on-site Board training without charge to local CAAs in order to help Board members provide the leadership, support and oversight required to meet the challanges facing local CAAs today and tomorrow. For more information contact Bill Hunter, NIQCA Executive Director by email (whunter@masscap.org) or phone (508-380-1398).

NIQCA and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Collaborate in Designing an Integrated CAA/CSBG Monitoring and Best Practices Assessment Tool and Protocol
In an effort to promote excellence in the management and governance of CAAs in Massachusetts, DHCD and NIQCA staff have developed a pilot assessment tool and protocol that integrates CSBG compliance monitoring and NIQCA best practices assessment into a streamlined, uniform process that is undertaken once every 3 years.

NIQCA Develops Generic Non-Profit Agency Best Practice Assessment Tool
The NIQCA has developed a standardized, generic Assessment Tool for smaller nonprofit agencies to use to assess and strengthen management and governance policies and practices. For information, contact William Hunter, NIQCA Executive Director (508-380-1398 or whunter@masscap.org).

NIQCA Publishes "Chalk Board" Management Tips
Quick read suggestions on improving management performance on topics of Fraud Prevention (PDF) and Dashboard Indicators (PDF).