The Maritimes Adopt Accreditation

(Originally published as 'DEVELOPMENT AT GRASS ROOTS' in Volume 2, Number 1 of the CALSCA Newsletter, January, 1995)

[Editor's Note: Jay Moore of the Ont. Assoc. has been involved with the Maritimes Assoc. as they wade through the meaning of accreditation and all its quirks and quarks. I reprint Jay's account of his experience because so many of you are at the beginning phases of putting accreditation in place. Enjoy! S.G.]

It was a fine weekend for a workshop in Charlottetown, PEI. People in the Maritimes Assoc. of Life Skills Coaches (MALSC) invited me to come and tell them more about the accreditation process that Ont. has developed over the past eight years or so. I was happy for the adventure and the chance to talk about something that excites and please me like this work has done.

Fourteen people were there and among them was my old friend John Valentin. He and I go way back to the beginning of the accreditation process in Ont. when it was still just a twinkle in our eyes! I got everyone involved in some small group work, there were lots of questions and dialogue throughout the day, Larson cartoons on the overhead, lots of handouts and six or seven excerpts from a two hour video. It was a tape of my intern and me working together to show the folks the nature of the relationship between the intern and the mentor and the use of the portfolio. I am very glad Diane Murphy, my intern, was willing to let our working session be shared with others who could benefit from an up close view of the inner workings of this professional development and evaluative process. Taking those kinds of risks is part of what makes her and me grow. Thanks, Diane. You get to keep the video tape.

I am glad I was able to communicate the beliefs and values that many of us hold about this process. I wanted the people to get a grasp of some principles like "intern-driven process", "professional development of the mentor too", "room for differences in styles and needs", "inclusive, not exclusive", "evaluation based on observation of skills" (or "the proof of the pudding is in the eating"), and the "internal motivation of individuals" that keeps this process and the structure within the association moving forward.

Later that day, they held their annual general meeting and ratified the acceptance of an accreditation process for MALSC. The people are ready to commit themselves to this new avenue that will require a lot of work and will provide many rewards. I am excited for them and grateful for the opportunity to share a growth experience with some wonderful people. I hope we all hear of lots more good things happening in the Maritimes.