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2	OVERVIEW Description of the CPS Program CPS Team Approach Elements of the CPS Model
3	CPS PROGRAM 30 cooperative agreements for $100,000 each awarded on May 28, 2004 for up to 3 years. Purpose is to provide financial assistance to affected local community-based organizations who wish to engage in constructive and collaborative problem-solving by utilizing tools developed by EPA and others to find viable solutions for their community’s environmental and/or public health concerns.
4	CPS TEAM APPROACH Community-Based Organization OEJ Technical Advisor Regional Technical Advisor OEJ Administrative and Approving Team consisting of the Project Officer and Program Manager.
5	AHC’s Project Vision The ultimate vision of the project is for AHC is to develop a collaborative process with its partners that encourages measures for the transformation of an unused 20-acre lot into a viable, livable community which will be an economic, cultural, and educational center for the residents to enjoy. The first step towards this ultimate vision is the creation of the community plan under Project Imua.
6	Project Imua EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement – Project Imua Region 9 Brownfields Clean-up Grant
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8	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 1: Issue Identification, Community Vision and Strategic Goal Setting Builds upon existing leadership and expertise in affected community Involves affected community residents early in identifying concerns and crystallizing issues Identifies potential partners Builds on clearly articulated community vision of its goals. Employs tools for involving affected community residents in visioning & planning (e.g., charettes, forums, workshops)
9	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 2: Community Capacity Building Builds upon existing organizational capacity within community. Identify capacity building mechanisms tailored to community needs/project goals. Fosters capacity building through training, mentoring, technical assistance, resource support. Ensures capacity building for community representatives directly involved in collaborative problem solving processes (ADR training). Ensures capacity building and leadership development of community residents for the future (e.g., youth).
10	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 3: Consensus Building & Dispute Resolution Design processes, both formal and informal, to ensure fair treatment & meaningful participation of all parties Institute processes which promote common vision, goals, and work plans. Use organizational forms which promote consensus building Ensure that existing or potential conflicts are resolved, when necessary, through use of alternative dispute resolution techniques.
11	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 4: Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Establish dialogues, early and ongoing, leading to partnerships with all relevant parties Ensure clarity of common vision, goals, & objectives among all parties Develop clear, workable organizational structure & work plan. Identify & recruit partners to leverage resources (human, institutional, technical, legal, financial, etc.) Incorporate new parties as new issues & needs arise Allows for inclusion of new partners as they emerge.
12	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 5: Supportive & Facilitative Role of Government Secures commitments from multiple agencies--federal, state, local, tribal Ensures interagency & intergovernmental cooperation & coordination to address complex issues involving environmental, health, housing, transportation, economic development, community revitalization,and other concerns (multi-issue) Ensures better alignment between community needs and government agency missions.
13	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 6: Sound Management & Implementation Ensures tangible outcomes & improvements in community conditions Ensures clear commitments from all partners Develops strategies tailored to community’s assets & deficits Design projects to meet strengths of partnerships, resources & capacity of partners Produces clear defined, well-formulated action plans & timelines Identifies & builds upon small successes Clusters & orders tasks to promote efficient use of time & resources Institutes appropriate organizational form & work procedures to promote efficient functioning of partnerships
14	THE CPS MODEL ELEMENT 7: Evaluation Framework, Lessons Learned & Replication of Best Practices Develops an evaluation framework as part of project conception & design Incorporates evaluation lessons into ongoing project implementation Defines clear measures of success of project objectives, process, outputs, institutional effects, & quality of life results Understands & incorporates different stakeholders’ perspectives of success. Documents, publishes and shares success stories & lessons learned. Develop mechanisms to integrate lessons into future efforts in same community and application to other communities.