Perf-Based Stds, Adult Corr. Inst. 5th ed March 2021

Performance-Based Standards and Expected Practices Explained The performance-based standards, expected practices and outcome measures included in this manual are the result of a major initiative undertaken by the American Correctional Association to improve the delivery of care to offenders within the correctional environment using the concept and template for performance based standards. Conceived and developed by professionals, these performance standards, expected prac- tices, and outcome measures will enable administrators and practitioners to not only monitor activities but also to measure over time the outcomes of their efforts. More than five years in the making, the American Correctional Association unveiled its first set of per- formance-based standards in August 2000. Partially funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, Standards for Adult Community Residential Services, 4th edition is the prototype that will guide the eventual development of all ACA performance-based accreditation manuals. I. The Basics The Bottom Line—What’s Different? Table 1 describes the relationship between the elements of the traditional accreditation model and the new performance-based accreditation model. TABLE 1: Comparing the Elements of The Performance-Based Accreditation Model, and The Traditional Accreditation Model

New Performance-Based Element

Traditional Standards Element

Previous Accreditation Element

Performance Standard

None (new element)

None (new element)

Outcome Measure

None (new element)

None (new element)

Standard

Standard

Expected Practice

Comment

Comment

Comment

None

Primary Documentation

Protocol

None

Secondary Documentation

Process Indicator

When Is a Standard No Longer a Standard? As Table 1 suggests, the biggest change in terminology is what we used to call “standards” all have been reclassified as “expected practices.” The reason for this change reveals the fundamental difference between the traditional standards and ACA’s new performance-based standards. Traditional Standards and Expected Practices describe activities or practices that are prescribed for practitioners, but performance standards describe a condition to be achieved and maintained.

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