APWA Accreditation What is APWA Accreditation The purpose

APWA Accreditation

What is APWA Accreditation? The purpose of Accreditation is to promote and recognize excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency utilizing a three step process.

Accreditation Objectives • • • Evaluate what you are doing well and what you could do better Develop new procedures policies, practices or Prepare documentation to support what you are doing

PHASE ONE Self-Assessment PHASE TWO Improvements PHASE THREE Accreditation

Accreditation • Increase professionalism • Instill pride within the department • Continuous updating and improvement

APWA Accredited Agencies • 102 United States Agencies • 2 Canadian Agencies 104 Total Agencies

Agencies Under Contract n n n 33 United States Agencies 1 Canadian Agencies 2 KC Metro Agencies n n Shawnee, KS just completed site visit and will become the 105 th Raymore, MO

Agencies Expressing Interest in KC Metro Area n n n Blue Springs, MO Kansas City, MO Mission, KS Fairway, KS Shawnee, KS

Lee’s Summit’s Experience Length of Time n Self-assessment n Initially started in 1997 but stalled due to n n n lack of priority in department Lack of organization “Daunting task” perception Mixed employee reactions Re-started efforts in 1999 n Implemented chapter leader concept to spread responsibility and accountability through the organization

Lee’s Summit’s Experience Initial Self Assessment Findings (1999) Total Practices: 462 Practices Specific to LSPW: 421 n n 50% Compliance – By Actual Practice and Written Documentation 70% Compliance – By Actual Practice

Lee’s Summit’s Experience n During improvement and implementation phases of process n n n Chapter leaders actively solicited support from other staff members encouraging participation throughout organization Over 40 of 110 employees were directly involved in the process Resulted in employee “buy in”

Lee’s Summit’s Experience n Accreditation n 1 st Re-accreditation n n 2008 after approx 12 months of review and updating 2 nd Re-accreditation n n Received full accreditation in 2004 First KC metro agency, 2 nd in Mo 2012 after 18 -24 months which included creating internal Wiki site Several LS PW practices are now identified as APWA model practices. 12

Lee’s Summit’s Experience Benefits n n Focused department on both short and long-term planning - proactive vs. reactive Practices, documents, policies and procedures assembled for accreditation became complete department operating manual n n Now housed on Wiki site Available to all employees through computer access at work or at home

Lee’s Summit’s Experience n n n Creating documentation from employee knowledge was invaluable to capture institutional knowledge Found practices not fully compliant with standards resulted in staff recognizing a need to improve And… 14

We ended up with really snazzy bowling shirts! 15