THE
MEPAP 2nd EDITION IS HERE!
By
Michael A. Bower, ACC
As
a member of the National Certification Council for Activity
Professionals Board of Directors since April 1998 I
have been involved in the MEPAP re-engineering project
since it moved from a joint project to an NCCAP project.
What an exciting challenge this has been for NCCAP!
I thought a little history on the project might be helpful,
so here goes!
At
the joint NAAP/NCCAP Board meeting at the Colorado NAAP
conference the two boards had a discussion about the
need to move the re-engineering project forward. At
that time the NAAP board members did not feel they were
in a position to proceed and they verbally accepted
NCCAP's offer to take the project forward alone. This
decision was formalized at the following NAAP Fall Board
of Trustees meeting. From that time the NCCAP Board
of Directors moved forward. Ann D'Antonio-Nocera agreed
to become the MEPAP Re-engineering Project Director
and she enlisted several of the previous writers and
many educators to be on her committee. I have been honored
to be a part of this process as an NCCAP Board Member,
MEPAP instructor, "Train the Trainer" instructor,
and MEPAP 2nd Edition reviewer.
All
actions taken in the re-engineering process have been
discussed and approved by the NCCAP Board of Directors.
The MEPAP 2nd Edition Project Director and the NCCAP
Executive Director have worked closely together and
have done an excellent job of keeping the board informed
and keeping the project on schedule. Through articles
in the newsletter, the website, personal letters, and
annual membership meetings the members of NCCAP, former
MEPAP writers, and the current pre-approved instructors
have been informed and invited to be a part of the process.
Some
clarification about the re-engineered MEPAP:
1. A frequently voiced concern by instructors had been
the lack of a textbook or textbooks for the course(s).
In recognition of the validity of that concern, the
re-engineered MEPAP has a designated set of texts that
are the core teaching materials for the instructors
and students. Of course, instructors may use supplementary
texts and materials to customize the materials to the
requirements of the states in which they are teaching.
While some instructors are teaching in the college system,
many more are teaching the MEPAP independently and need
the structure of required texts, thus providing continuity
and consistency across the nation. A set of the required
texts will be provided with the training and is included
in the cost. These include the MEPAP 2nd Edition Text,
the revised administrative requirements for MEPAP 2nd
Edition, 3 to 4 management books, a text on aging and
life, and a general "activity for the elderly"
text. Great care is being given to choose texts that
provide the most comprehensive information.
2.
Those who are pre-approved are not required to take
the entire two days of training. As experienced teachers
they need only attend the day the new curriculum information
is offered. However, we hope that a refresher in adult
learning methods and the possibility of learning new
techniques and perspectives and of networking with experienced
educators will be viewed as an opportunity too good
to pass up!
3.
The first training for the MEPAP 2nd Edition is planned
for Iowa on October 5 and 6, in Nevada on October 25
and 26, and in Tennessee on November 29 and 30, with
at least four more tentatively scheduled in 2005. Hopefully
we will be able to offer it at the 2005 NAAP Conference
as well. NCCAP is willing to schedule training anywhere
that 15 participants, dates, and a site can be found!
A request for sites has gone out several times. It is
in everyone's best interest to have well-trained and
current instructors as soon as possible. That being
said, we recognize that we cannot reach all instructors
within this year and instructors can continue to teach
the MEPAP using the current materials for the two years
following their last pre-approval. Because of this,
NCCAP will continue to give out separate pre-approval
numbers for parts one and two; this will be phased out
as the MEPAP Edition I
teaching ends.
4. It is required to have 15 participants as the minimum
number to pay the expenses of providing the training,
i.e. the costs incurred by bringing in instructors,
payment for the site, and cost of materials. Every effort
is being made to keep the costs reasonable, while keeping
in mind that the training is an investment for the instructors.
If you feel that your area could support the training,
please contact the NCCAP office!
As
a reviewer, I had the opportunity to see the MEPAP 2nd
Edition early on. I am very impressed with the body
of work that has resulted from the 5+ years of effort
by Ann D'Antonio-Nocera and her committee. First as
the NCCAP Board of Directors President and then as the
NCCAP Executive Director, Cindy Bradshaw has contributed
countless hours on this project. Many dedicated people
have contributed as writers, editors, and reviewers.
Is it perfect? No. Is it the gospel? No. It is the MEPAP
2nd Edition and I am sure that there will be many editions
to come. As the MEPAP 1st Edition it was a sign of our
maturing as a profession, the MEPAP 2nd Edition is another
milestone in that maturation process. NN
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