What is the involvement of CIS National as sites proceed to establish CIS? Is final “approval” needed from CIS National?
One of the benefits of joining the CIS Network is access to training and technical assistance of CIS Inc. CIS-WA field staff are available to assist communities in the development of their local CIS initiative at any point in the process. Of course, because CIS does not charge fees or dues, travel and training slots may be limited to those communities most interested and in need of particular assistance. CIS national training and tech assistance will be utilized most often by a community’s “local-liaison” the point person in developing CIS – and later by an executive director and board. When a community is ready to incorporate their local CIS and implement the CIS process, CIS Inc. will review an operational status checklist and sign a letter of agreement with the local organization. The local CIS remains an autonomous entity, guided completely by local leadership. The only approval exercised by CIS national concerns the use of the name CIS.
