Below are the materials that are being used by Archdiocese of Cincinnati to assess and improve adherence to national rule by conferences.  Please review the notes below for further information on the process.

A few things to note:

- The assessment is based on the national rule. However, you will see that we have not yet required weekly meetings in order to meet that standard. Rather, we are asking them to meet every other week, knowing this will be a more gradual transition for them. Other than that, I think these standards conform with the national rule.

- It is important that the reviews are conducted by other Vincentians, and that they are an opportunity for 2-way dialogue. This is not a grade. Nor is it an award. It is an assessment to help them and us understand where they are excelling and where they could use a little help.

- The scores will not be black and white – there are judgment calls that the person making the assessment may need to make. However, we have tried to provide fairly comprehensive guides for them.

- We conduct the assessments every three years. That way, we have time to work with the conferences in areas where they may be falling short. (For example, many conferences did not have spiritual advisors when we did the assessment in 2007. After emphasizing spiritual advisors, providing training, etc. we saw a significant improvement in this area for the 2010 assessment).