HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification
Transform your organization with HOPE
The HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification reshapes care and service delivery in ways that enable child- and family-serving organizations to better accomplish their own missions of improving the lives of the children and families they serve. The Certification is a formal process that guides organizations through a journey of culture and organizational change. It builds on an organization’s current approach to become a HOPE-Informed practice. Embarking on this certification journey signifies and publicly recognizes that an organization is actively committed to practicing the strengths-based, anti-racist HOPE Framework, upholding the principle that all children and families should have equitable access to positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and promoting PCEs for the children, families, and communities they serve.
Why should my organization become certified?
The HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification program publicly recognizes that an organization is working to bridge its current practice to HOPE-Informed practice. The program provides the structure, tools, training, and technical assistance needed to enable organizations to successfully implement and sustain their journey of change, from securing leadership support to implementing new processes to measuring outcomes.
The HOPE-Informed Certification signifies that an organization is actively committed to improving health equity and practicing the strengths-based, anti-racist HOPE Framework. Certified organizations uphold the principle that all children and families should have equitable access to positive childhood experiences (PCEs), and also promote and provide PCEs for the children and families they serve.
The cultural and operational change organizations achieve through the HOPE-Informed Certification process helps make HOPE-Informed practice the standard, ensuring organizations build trusting relationships with children and families, better deliver on their organization’s promise, and fulfill their mission. In addition, because family and community needs are always changing, Certified organizations are committed to always learning and continuously improving services and service delivery to understand the best ways to promote and provide PCEs to support those they serve.
The HOPE-Informed Certification can be a key step in an organization’s journey to becoming trauma informed. For organizations that have already invested in and incorporated trauma-informed care approaches, the certification supports their efforts to provide more effective care and services, improve health outcomes, increase staff resiliency/reduce burnout, and decrease costs. For organizations considering or just beginning their trauma-informed care journey, the certification provides a framework and foundation for making the necessary shift in an organization’s internal culture to be able to start and sustain trauma-informed care.
Certified organizations are healthy places to work. the HOPE framework principles infuse how an organization’s staff interact with one another and guide the implementation of policies and structures to foster respectful and supportive interactions, promote staff wellbeing, reduce turnover, and prevent burnout. This shift in an organization’s internal culture also positively impacts its external work with families and improves service delivery.
The HOPE-Informed Certification can serve as a unifying framework that supports the establishment of multi-sector partnerships and coalitions that focus on children’s health and development through shared understanding and common language.
Advancing health equity has become a priority for many funders. the HOPE-Informed Certification can be a key differentiator, signifying an organization’s active commitment to improving health equity and practicing the strengths-based, anti-racist HOPE Framework.
Hear from HOPE-Informed Organizations
Learning to incorporate HOPE with other existing frameworks like Strengthening Families [was the most helpful aspect of the Champion training]. We [Bayou Lotus Corporation] have become a certified HOPE organization and are integrating HOPE throughout our organization.
What is the certification process for my organization?
The HOPE-Informed Certification process is customized for each organization through a collaborative partnership with the HOPE team that works to meet each organization’s specific needs and support the organization’s unique journey towards fully integrating the HOPE framework into practice.
The certification process consists of two phases. After completing the planning phase, organizations are considered “HOPE-Inspired.” After they have implemented their plan, an organization becomes “HOPE-Informed.”
- Organization chooses 1-3 HOPE Champions to guide them through the process. Champions can be employees within or individuals outside of the organization
- HOPE Champions participate in live HOPE-Informed Organization Certification sessions
- HOPE Champion(s) help the organization complete a comprehensive self-assessment
- Once the assessment is complete, HOPE Champion(s) and key organizational decision makers develop an action plan based on the results of the assessment
- Once the Action Plan is in place, organization has up to two years to implement it
- Champion(s) meet with HOPE Certification Manager as needed to receive individualized technical assistance in implementing Action Plan
- Organization submits quarterly updates on progress towards completing the Action Plan including quality improvement data and family satisfaction surveys
Partnership with a HOPE Champion
Each organization must partner with a HOPE Champion before applying for the HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification program.
Your organization is ready to submit their HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification application.
Contact the HOPE Champion to inquire if they are willing to support your organization. Once an agreement is reached, your organization is ready to submit their HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification application.
The Facilitator on staff will need to complete the HOPE Champion Certification program. Once their Champion training is complete, your organization is ready to submit their HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification application.
The individual on staff will need to complete the HOPE Train the Facilitator Certification program followed by the HOPE Champion Certification program. Once their Champion training is complete, your organization is ready to submit their HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification application.
Contact us and we will be happy to find you a suitable match.
Contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Is your organization ready to become HOPE-Informed?
Each organization must partner with a HOPE Champion before applying for the HOPE-Informed Organizational Certification program. The Champion can either be on-staff or a consultant.
The Organizational Certification is a long-term commitment. The process starts with monthly calls for a period of six months while the organization completes the self-assessment and develops the action plan. During this time, there will also be optional weekly Office Hours for those who have questions or desire more support. Once the action plan is developed, the organization then has two years to implement the plan.
The Organizational Certification costs $5000. There will likely be additional costs for organizations as they prepare for certification by either training a staff member to become a HOPE Champion or partnering with a Champion in the community.
There will be one scholarship available per cohort. Please reach out to us for more information.
The Organizational Certification is valid for three years. To recertify, an organization will need to submit another self-assessment and a $250 application fee.
Start your HOPE-Informed journey
The first public cohort will launch in February 2024.