Policies and Procedures: - PowerPoint Presentation

Policies and Procedures: Your Best Insurance Courtney L. Hoskins and Jeanette Burket Aging Services Program Specialists August 18 – 21, 2014 - Washington D.C.

OverviewPolicies and Procedures What are they? Why do we need them? Why are they important? Development of a manual Training and implementation Resources

Policies and Procedures are Required!Did you know that having policies and procedures can actually make your job easier by assisting you with: Daily decision making Program monitoring Staff development Quality, integrity and continuity of services

The Basics on Policies and Procedures What are they? Why do we need them? Why are they important?

Why do we need them and why are they important?They are required (see the Title VI Resource Manual page 38) Policies and Procedures are inter-related Policies guide the implementation of programs Procedures are the steps or activities needed to accomplish a specific policy Together they provide the rules and guidelines for the program

Policies guide present and future decisionsTitle VI policies must be consistent with other approved Tribal policies

Procedures are the steps for implementationProcedures are less formal than policies Procedures may still require approval

Developing your Title VI Policy and Procedure Manual Use the tools created for you! Older Americans Act Title VI Program – Policy, Procedure and Resource Guide - A Comprehensive Example Suggested Title VI Policy and Procedures – Basic Outlines Title VI Resource Manual

Developing your Title VI Policy and Procedure Manual Continued…Adapt what has already been developed to meet your local situation Review you tribal policies Assure That Title VI policies are consistent with tribal policies

Developing your Title VI Policy and Procedure Manual Continued…Obtain Elder Advisory Council buy-in of the proposed Title VI policies and procedures (if you have a Elder Council, and that is an established role or function of that group) Obtain formal approval and adoption by the official tribal governing body Include a signature/verification page at the beginning of the manual showing the date of tribal approval

Implementation and Training Conduct formal training sessions so that all staff have the same information Information about minor changes or updates could be provided by memo or other informal methods

Ongoing Work…On an ongoing basis, review current policies and procedures to determine if changes are needed, annually Procedures, review more often than policies, will require revision Revised policies and procedures need to be approved

SummaryPolicies and procedures actually make your job easier Keep them current Policies and procedures will ensure consistent quality services for your Tribal elders Policies and procedures are your day-to-day guide in program operation Policies and procedures will help avoid confusion

Summary Continued…Policies and procedures will help assure all staff and clients are treated equally Approval of the policies and procedures make them enforceable All staff need to be aware of new or revised policies and procedures Your policy and procedure manual is a living document Keep it at your desk, use it, keep it up to date!

Thank you for coming and sharing your wisdom! For more information about ACL U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Washington DC 20201 Email: Courtney.hoskins@acl.hhs.gov Phone: (303) 844-7819 Email: Jeanette.Burkett@acl.hhs.gov Phone: (206) 615-2298 Web: www.acl.gov