Once you've written your Narratives and gathered your evidence of implementation, you can begin to assemble your Self-Study. Listed below are the two options for assembling and submitting your Self-Study.

Please note: An Executive Verification must be completed for both the Hard Copy and Electronic Self Studies starting January 1, 2008. The Executive Verification serves as an additional assurance that your Self Study is complete and COA standards have been implemented. This document must be signed by your Chief Executive Officer. See the Related Files on this page for the Executive Verification Template.

Option 1: Electronic Self-Study

Your first option is submission of an Electronic Self-Study. See the Related Files to download a copy of the Electronic Self-Study Instructions, the Executive Verification, the READ ME FIRST document, and the Table of Contents Template.

If you started your Electronic Self-Study prior to the introduction of these revised guidelines, and would like to use the older version of the Table of Contents Template, please contact your COA Coordinator to receive a copy.

Option 2: Hard Copy Self-Study

Your second option is submission of a Hard Copy Self-Study. Please assemble your Hard Copy Self-Study into secure three-ring binders according to the instructions outlined below.

Note: It is preferable to use several smaller binders with a few standards sections in each, rather than using large binders. Large binders are frequently damaged during shipping and are difficult for the peer reviewers to work with.

Your Self-Study documentation should be organized in the following order:

1. Administration and Management Standards: Arrange sections alphabetically starting with Ethical Practice (ETH) and ending with Risk Prevention and Management (RPM).
2. Service Delivery Administration Standards: Arrange sections alphabetically starting with Administrative and Service Environment (ASE) and ending with Training and Supervision (TS).
3. Service Standards: Arrange all service sections alphabetically.

Pagination:

Your organization is free to choose whatever form of page numbering works best for you as long as each page is clearly labeled and consistently numbered. If the binders are damaged during shipping, page numbering in conjunction with a completed table of contents allows the Self-Study to be reassembled.

Note: Please do not submit copies of the standards with your Self-Study.

Steps to Assembling Your Self-Study

Complete the following steps for each applicable standards section:

Step 1: Table of Contents Template

Download the Table of Contents Template from the Related Files. The Template includes blank Tables of Contents forms for all Administration and Management, Service Delivery Administration, and Service sections.

Note: You are required to complete and use these forms with your hard copy Self-Study.

Step 2: Administration and Management Standards

1. Create and insert a tab labeled "Administration and Management Standards" into your first binder.
2. Create and insert a tab labeled "Ethical Practice" behind the first tab.
3. Insert the required Table of Contents template for Ethical Practice. Add a column for page numbers before printing out and inserting the Table of Contents Template.
4. Place the completed Ethical Practice Administration and Management Narrative behind the Table of Contents.
5. Place all attachments referenced in the Ethical Practice Narrative behind the completed Narrative.
6. Place all required Self-Study documentation behind the Narrative attachments in the order outlined in the Table of Evidence (e.g., evidence for ETH 1 followed by evidence for ETH 2, etc.)
7. Clearly label and number each page of the Self-Study documentation, including the Narrative attachments and the evidence listed in the Table of Evidence.
8. Complete the Table of Contents. Include each Narrative attachment and the documents listed in the Table of Evidence.
9. Repeat steps b through h for each of the remaining sections of the Administration and Management Standards, starting with the next alphabetical section Financial Management.

Step 3: Administration and Management Standards

1. Create and insert a tab labeled "Service Delivery Administration" after the last page of evidence for the Administration and management standards.
2. Create and insert a tab labeled "Administrative and Service Environment" behind the first tab.
3. Follow steps c through h in the Administration and Management section and repeat these steps for each of the remaining sections of the Service Delivery Administration standards.

Step 4: Service Delivery Standards

1. After the Service Delivery Administration sections are complete, create and insert a tab labeled "Service Standards."
2. Create and insert a tab labeled with the first alphabetical service standard for which you are being accredited (e.g., Adult Day Services).
3. Insert the required Table of Contents Template for this section after the tab. Add a column for page numbers before printing out and inserting the Table of Contents Template.
4. Place your completed Service Narrative template behind the table of contents.
5. Place all attachments referenced in the Service Narrative behind the completed Narrative.
6. Place all required Self-Study documents behind the attachments in the order in which they are outlined in the Table of Evidence.
7. Clearly label and number each page of the Self-Study documentation, including the Narrative attachments and the evidence listed in the Table of Evidence.
8. Complete the Table of Contents. Include each Narrative attachment and the documents listed in the Table of Evidence.
9. Repeat steps b through h for each of the remaining Services, starting with the next alphabetical Service section.

Step 5: Review your document for accuracy and thoroughness.

Step 6: Executive Verification

Download and complete the Executive Verification, found in the Related Files, and place it at the beginning of the first binder of your Self-Study. Label it clearly so the Peer Team can easily find it.

Step 7: Label each binder with the name of your organization and your COA identification number.