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.
• Resources to Support Regional CAA Planning, Collaboration, and Crisis Intervention.

In the News

New NIQCA Advisory Board Members Elected. At the August 27 , 2012 meeting of the NIQCA Advisory Board An-Ming Truxes, Lead Planning Analyst, CT. Department of Social Services and Sandra Venner, Policy Director and Fellow IA SP at the Brandeis University, Heller Graduate School were elected to serve as representatives of CT. DSS and Higher Education. An-Ming and Sandra join Board members: Joe Diamond, MASSCAP, Inc., Rhonda Evans, CAFCA, Inc., Kathleen McDermott, MOC, Inc., Reed Risteen, Blum and Shapiro, LLC., Edith Karsky, CAFCA, Inc., Gerald Bell, MA. DHCD., Leverett Wing, MA. DHCD, Pat Wilson-Pheaniaus and Paul Puzzo, Emeritus Member

"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).