Over the past three years, EMAP has acquired a 77% increase in accredited programs, thus providing key outcomes in the comparison of the 2015 Accredited Program Survey (with a 53% response) to the 2012 Accredited Program Survey (with a 56% response). The purpose of the survey is to gather information that may assist in improving the accreditation process; provide marketing analysis to assist in initiatives, presentations, and materials; and to provide data on overall improvements to Programs and the true benefits of those representatives being leaders in the field of emergency management through accreditation.
In 2012, EMAP provided an introductory survey for accredited programs that gathered data for motivating factors, benefits and program individual results that stemmed from the accreditation process. Recommendations that came from that survey provided EMAP the opportunity to strengthen services such as the development of a payment planning method structured so that varying sized jurisdictions can fund their accreditation effort with more ease. Test services such as incorporating a remote portion to the assessment phases to ease on costs of the on-site assessment. The survey brought out ideas to improve the training course and create guidance with tools for better understanding of the intent of the standards. EMAP also took the opportunity to revise the website to a friendly platform with high quality resources available to all Programs committed to the accreditation process.
The 2015 Accredited Program Survey still seeks to gather data regarding motivation and the benefits of accreditation; as well as noticeable program improvements and shortcomings identified through the assessment phases (self-assessment and on-site verification from assessors) of the accreditation process. The results entail the motivations of those who choose to commit to accreditation, for example to demonstrate a measurement of Program sustainability. The results also rank the benefits of EMAP Accreditation, where 40% of the Programs testified that there has been a considerable increase in the level of executive-level internal and external stakeholder coordination, communication, interaction, and improvement in relationships during and following the accreditation process. The leading noticeable program improvement by 72% of the Programs confirmed that the overall awareness and knowledge of Program personnel to all of the aspects of the Program increased considerably through the process. When asked if there needs to be any improvements to the five phases of accreditation, 95% of the Programs responded that no changes would not need to be made. The survey data will still be used for improvements to the services and overall strategy for EMAP, especially within the training courses and webinars; marketing initiatives; and guidance resources.
Thank you to those that participated. To see the full executive summary that entails a synopsis of the data provided from the representatives of accredited programs, you may download (must be logged in to the website for access) the 2015 Accredited Program Survey Summary.