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Section 3. Support CAC members to succeed

Recommended best practices are followed by suggestions and examples from CACs.

Provide a clear orientation that covers roles, expectations, and background about the CCO and CAC. Recognize there can be a steep learning curve for anyone joining a CAC. Set up the team as a cohesive group where everyone is an equal.

  • Provide all new members with a notebook or handbook that includes the following (consider translations as needed):
    • CAC charter
    • List of CAC acronyms
    • List of CAC members and their background or role on the CAC
    • Most recent Community Health Improvement Plan
    • Most recent Community Health Assessment
    • Minutes from recent meetings for review
    • Role descriptions for CAC members, CAC chairs, partners and CCO staff
  • Provide an overview of relevant webpages on the CCO's website.
  • Resource: Eastern Oregon CCO overview for new CAC members
  • Resource: AllCare CCO CAC Handbook

CAC Best Practices Handbook contents

Handbook overview
  1. Establish a clear structure and guiding principles
  2. Recruit members to join the CAC
  3. Support CAC members to succeed
  4. Design engaging and effective CAC meetings
  5. Help CAC members see their value

Pair new CAC members with a fellow member “buddy” for check- ins, questions, concerns, etc.

  • Consider creating a non-voting CAC mentor role to assist newer CAC members and recruit potential CAC members.
Be aware of members’ life circumstances, cultural background and required meeting accommodations.
  • Provide meeting accommodations to facilitate full inclusion of the group (for example, times, locations, transportation, translators and interpreters, materials, etc.).

Create opportunities to build relationships among members.

  • Allow time for reflection and celebration in addition to business at meetings.
  • Start meetings by allowing CAC members to offer appreciations to meeting participants.
  • Consider hosting optional half hour pre-meeting Zoom gatherings to allow CAC members to connect with each other.

Provide resources to CAC members.

  • Consider stipends to CAC members, meals at CAC meetings, and cover transportation to and from meetings.
  • Stipend amounts range from $25 to $50 per CAC member per CAC meeting. Additional stipends are often given to consumer CAC members for participating in Community Health Improvement Plan (CHP) subcommittees, which are outside of CAC meetings.
  • Consider a small stipend to consumer CAC members to help with the cost of childcare during meetings.