WHAT ARE OTHER STANDARD FEATURES?

COA standards contain many other helpful features to guide your organization in its implementation of the standards.

Introduction/Definition

The Administration and Management and Service Delivery Administration standards sections each begin with an Introduction. The Introduction provides you with background information and highlights about standards within that section (see example 1). Each section of the Service standards begins with a Definition that characterizes the service and elaborates on the types of programs that correspond with the section (see example 2).

Interpretations

Interpretations may follow a standard. An interpretation elaborates on the meaning of a standard and may offer useful examples. You should read and follow the guidance in interpretations to ensure that you meet the full intent of a standard (see example 3).

Notes

Notes give guidance on how to implement a standard based on the unique characteristics of your organization (see example 4).

Research Notes

Research notes offer you important information, gathered through reviews of the professional literature and published research that supports the standards. A reference list is included as an attachment to each Research Note so that your organization can identify the resources that informed the development of the standard (see example 5).

Reference Lists with Evidence Informed Practices

Practices that have been identified as having some support for effectiveness in a body of evidence are identified in reference lists. The strength of the evidence supporting these practices is described along a continuum. References that contributed to the knowledge of that practice are included within the reference list for your information (see example 6). Definitions for these evidence informed practices are included in the glossary.

Related Standards

Related Standards highlight connections between associated standards. They allow you to create integrated documents and can be used by your organization to integrate administrative functions and unify operations and service delivery (see example 7).

Updates

Updates identify changes or adjustments to a whole standard or part of a standard, including interpretations and notes. Standards that include Last updated 9/1/2006 have been dynamically updated to include these changes so you can view them readily. Updates occur when a practice within an industry evolves or changes based on new information or research (see example 8).