WHAT ARE THE SELF-STUDY SUPPLEMENTS?

The Self-Study supplements are comprised of three separate documents (briefing booklet, Memorandum of Understanding, and standards matrix) that help facilitate and contextualize the accreditation experience for you and the Peer Team.

Briefing Booklets
COA requires that state-administered public systems prepare and submit "briefing booklets" to their Peer Team members prior to each site visit, along with their Self-Study materials. Briefing booklets are used to provide detailed information on each geographic area, region, circuit, office or county being reviewed. Information contained in the briefing booklets can include, but is not limited to: demographic data, caseload reporting data, information on staffing patterns and caseload sizes, a map of the site visit location(s) and detailed logistical information on transportation within each geographic area.

Guidance on how to prepare the briefing booklets will be provided by COA through your COA Coordinator and via a self-paced training on COA's website.

Briefing booklets are considered optional for county-administered systems that are becoming individually accredited with one site visit.

Memorandum of Understanding
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) documents specific information on how various portions of the accreditation process will apply to the agency. Information can be included on the following topics:

• how and where case records will be reviewed;
• for which standards the agency has received NAs;
• a description of any specialized service delivery (e.g., medically fragile foster care) and how standards are to be applied to these services; and
• any other unique aspects of the review to be applied to the agency.

Standards Matrix
The standards matrix is a guide used by the Peer Team that delineates which standards are to be reviewed locally and which are to be reviewed at headquarters level. All state-administered systems will receive the matrix early on in the accreditation process in order to prepare for the site visit.