CSMFE adheres tot he wight criteria of Action communautaire autonome
The Eight Criteria That Apply to Organizations of Action Communautaire Autonome
As specified in the Government Policy: L’action communautaire, une contribution essentielle à l’exercice de la citoyenneté et au développement social du Québec (September 2001) and in the Framework for Community Action (August 2004).
The Four Criteria That Apply to the Community Sector as a Whole:
- Have non-profit organization status;
- Demonstrate strong roots in the community; committees, working groups with members, connections with other community organizations, participation in local networks, etc.
- Maintain democratic and participatory governance; board of directors, decision-making bodies, consultation mechanisms involving staff, volunteers, and members. Hold an annual general meeting.
- Be free to define its mission, directions, approaches, and practices. These are determined by the members and the board of directors.
The Four Additional Criteria Specific to Action Communautaire Autonome:
- Be created on the initiative of people from the community; mission defined by founding members, mandates set by members and targeted communities.
- Pursue a social mission unique to the organization, aimed at promoting social change; the mission is mainly focused on social action, social development, and transformation.
- Demonstrate civic-minded practices and broad approaches addressing issues in a holistic way; mobilizing people around collective issues: consultations, assemblies, popular education activities. Developing specific interventions or services that tackle the root causes of problems.
- Be governed by a board of directors that is independent from the public sector. Elected or appointed members are not affiliated with the public sector; the board is independent from public institutions and other funders.