Episode Description:

In this episode of Accreditation Made Easy, Areaka Jewell dives into a powerful mindset shift around mentorship. We often imagine mentors as seasoned professionals offering long-term advice—but that’s only part of the story. Areaka explores how mentors can come from unexpected places, including peers, younger professionals, and even people you’ve never met.

Whether you’re new to accreditation or navigating a new phase in the process, this episode will inspire you to build a stronger, more diverse support system. You’ll also hear why “more guidance means more growth” and how to take the first step—even if you’re not sure where to begin.

Timestamps:

00:45 – Reflecting on how many of us had different mentors growing up: teachers, coaches, counselors

01:20 – Why we need more tailored support as adults, especially in accreditation roles

02:00 – Broadening the definition of mentorship beyond the traditional view

03:00 – Real-world example: how different people can help with policy writing, on-site prep, or tech tasks

04:30 – Mentors don’t have to be older or long-term—what short-term, situational guidance looks like

05:40 – Why even informal mentorship matters, and how others become invested in your success

06:25 – Learning from people you’ve never met: social media, conferences, books, and blogs

07:30 – Questions to ask yourself about where you need support and who might guide you

08:10 – Encouragement to keep asking, observing, and learning as you build your mentor network

08:45 – Areaka shares an idea for a mentorship resource she’s building for listeners

Download today's discussion: https://public.powerdms.com/theacademy/documents/2337383

🔗 Stay Connected:

📇 Digital Business Card

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📘 Facebook

📸 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

⭐️ If this episode helped you:

Please take a moment to rate, review, and follow Accreditation Made Easy wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps others discover helpful content and keeps this community growing strong. See you next time!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

📌 Episode Description:

In this short but powerful episode, Areaka walks you through why Adobe Acrobat Pro isn’t just a luxury—it’s a must-have tool for anyone managing accreditation. From merging multi-year proofs to converting forms and policies, Acrobat Pro gives you the power to edit, bundle, and manage PDFs like a pro (literally). This isn’t just theory—these are tools Areaka uses every single day.

Timestamps:

0:44 – Areaka opens the episode with excitement about one of her favorite accreditation tools: Adobe Acrobat Pro.

1:10 – Overview of Acrobat Reader vs. Acrobat Pro.

1:35 – Edit PDF Tools: Add or revise text, insert images, create internal/external links, and more.

2:00 – Prepare Forms Tools: Build fillable forms with digital signature options—something Reader doesn’t offer.

2:30 – Organize Pages Tools: Rearrange pages, insert files, or split documents with ease.

2:50 – Create PDF Tool: Turn Word, Excel, PowerPoint, web pages, and scanned images into PDFs.

3:10 – Export PDF Tool: Convert PDFs back into editable formats like Word or Excel—perfect for updating shared resources.

3:40 – Real-world accreditation examples: combining multi-year proofs, editing other agencies’ forms, and building pre-read packets with hyperlinks.

5:50 – Final encouragement: Acrobat Pro is a powerful way to streamline and simplify accreditation tasks.

📥 Free Resource:

Download your Companion Guide with a full feature breakdown: 👉 Download the Companion Guide

🔗 Stay Connected:

📇 Digital Business Card

🌐 Website

📘 Facebook

📸 Instagram

💼 LinkedIn

⭐️ If this episode helped you:

Please take a moment to rate, review, and follow Accreditation Made Easy wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps others discover helpful content and keeps this community growing strong. See you next time!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

In this short but powerful episode, Areaka Jewell breaks down one of the most common stressors in accreditation—keeping track of proofs of compliance. If your current system involves sticky notes, spreadsheets, or files only you understand, it might be time to switch gears. Learn how to use PowerDMS Assessment Tasks to assign responsibilities, set recurring reminders, and generate quick reports that show exactly what’s missing (and who owes it to you).

📌Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why proof tracking causes chaos and how today’s episode helps

01:10 – The real challenge: Too many standards, too many moving parts

02:27 – What assessment tasks are and why they work

03:38 – Step-by-step: How to set up and assign assessment tasks

05:58 – Task maintenance: When to mark complete (and why not to delete!)

07:05 – Pro tip: Copy tasks into future assessments to save time

07:50 – Reporting: How to filter tasks to generate actionable reports

08:20 – Implementation tips: Set a realistic goal and stick with it

08:55 – Free download + how to stay connected

Get the companion how-to guide that walks you through PowerDMS Task Setup step by step:

👉 Download the Free Task Setup Guide

📬 Stay Connected with Areaka Jewell:

• 🌐 Digital Business Card
• 🖥 Website
• 👍 Facebook
• 📸 Instagram
• 💼 LinkedIn

⭐️ If this episode helped you:

Please take a moment to rate, review, and follow Accreditation Made Easy wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps others discover helpful content and keeps this community growing strong. See you next time!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

In this episode, Areaka Jewell dives into a key moment in every assessment—assessor interviews. Whether you're brand new to accreditation or a seasoned accreditation manager, knowing what to expect from interviews and how to prepare staff can make all the difference. Areaka also introduces her newest tool, the Accreditation Readiness Coach, which provides realistic, no-fluff practice for interview-style questions.

📌Timestamps:

• (00:43) Why assessor interviews matter
• (01:27) Who conducts interviews and who gets interviewed
• (02:13) What assessors are looking for during interviews
• (03:07) Where and how interviews take place
• (04:08) Tips for staff: Be real, not rehearsed
• (05:00) Common staff concerns and confidence gaps
• (05:50) Meet the Accreditation Readiness Coach
• (07:10) How to access the tool
• (08:30) Two free downloads to support your prep

📥 Download the Companion Resources:

• Assessor Interview Prep Guide

• Accreditation Readiness Coach Quick Reference

Both guides include a link to the interactive Accreditation Readiness Coach tool — try it for yourself or use it to prepare your team!

📬 Stay Connected with Areaka Jewell:

• 🌐 Digital Business Card
• 🖥 Website
• 👍 Facebook
• 📸 Instagram
• 💼 LinkedIn

⭐️ If this episode helped you:

Please take a moment to rate, review, and follow Accreditation Made Easy wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback helps others discover helpful content and keeps this community growing strong. See you next time!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

In this quick but packed episode, Areaka breaks down the three powerful types of searches inside PowerDMS and how to use each one to your advantage. Plus, she teases an exciting new AI-based search tool coming soon, designed specifically for accreditation managers and assessors.

Timestamps:

• (0:44) Welcome & today's topic: Search tools in PowerDMS
• (1:20) The "Find Anything" search bar – keywords, filters & folders
• (2:01) Using Advanced Search for deeper filtering
• (2:38) Search within a document using the magnifying glass
• (3:22) What can’t you search? (Assessments & standards)
• (3:40) Preview: New AI-based tool for searching standards
• (4:35) Recap of the three search methods
• (5:08) Download the companion guide & subscribe to the Content Hub

Download the Companion Guide:

Download the step-by-step instructions for all three PowerDMS search tools:

Companion Guide

🔗 Stay Connected:

🌐 Digital business card: www.areakajewell.com

📘 Facebook: Accreditation Academy

📸 Instagram: @accreditationacademy

💼 LinkedIn: Areaka Jewell

📣 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review

Wherever you listen to podcasts, your reviews and shares help more agencies find us—and make accreditation easier for everyone!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

In this episode, Areaka Jewell tackles one of the most common phrases heard during accreditation assessments: "We've always done it this way." When past practices no longer meet current standards, how should agencies respond? Rather than reacting defensively, Areaka offers five smart ways to reframe the situation as an opportunity for growth, transparency, and continuous improvement. Whether you’re an accreditation manager or team member, this episode gives you practical strategies to elevate your agency’s approach to compliance.

📌 Timestamps & Highlights:

• (0:43) Why “We’ve Always Done It This Way” shows up so often
• (1:30) Understanding why things change—even when standards don’t
• (2:15) The natural reaction: Defensiveness, and how to shift away from it
• (2:43) Reframing the response: What can we learn?
• (3:09) Smart Way #1: Pause and reevaluate the standard’s intent
• (3:50) Smart Way #2: Compare your policy to your practice
• (4:29) Smart Way #3: Make space for internal review and discussion
• (5:08) Smart Way #4: Recognize when something may have been missed
• (5:47) Smart Way #5: Stay connected to best practices
• (6:47) The big takeaway: Ask if your current way still serves your agency
• (7:16) Recap: 5 Smart Ways
• (7:51) Wrap-up and encouragement to share or leave a review

📥 Download the Companion Guide:

Download a summary of this episode to share with your team or reference later:

👉 Companion Guide

🔗 Stay Connected:

🌐 Digital business card: www.areakajewell.com

📘 Facebook: Accreditation Academy

📸 Instagram: @accreditationacademy

💼 LinkedIn: Areaka Jewell

📣 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review

Wherever you listen to podcasts, your reviews and shares help more agencies find us—and make accreditation easier for everyone!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

When writing policies for accreditation, how do you know when it's safe to copy the standard language—and when you must explain more? In this episode, Areaka breaks down the important difference between following the letter and the spirit of the standard. She shares clear examples, keywords to watch for, and best practices for crafting policies that pass without confusion. Plus, she reveals a new free resource to make this even easier!

📌 In this episode we cover:

(0:42) The difference between the "letter" and "spirit" of the standard

(3:05) When it's safe to use standard language word-for-word

(5:05) Keywords that signal when you must expand your policy

(7:10) How to handle different terminology while staying compliant

(8:00) Free Quick Reference Guide and invitation to join the Content Hub

📥 Download the Quick Reference Guide

Download the easy cheat sheet that shows when to use standard language and when to expand here:

👉 Quick Reference Guide

🔗 Stay Connected:

🌐 Digital business card: www.areakajewell.com

📘 Facebook: Accreditation Academy

📸 Instagram: @accreditationacademy

💼 LinkedIn: Areaka Jewell

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup

Episode Description:

If you've ever found yourself uploading the same document, note, or reference over and over again while building your PowerDMS assessment — this episode is for you! Areaka shares a simple but powerful trick: how to copy attachments across standards. It’s a huge time-saver and helps keep your assessment consistent.

📌 In this episode we cover:

• (0:43) AI voice disclosure and request for listener feedback
• (0:58) Welcome & common frustration with repetitive uploads
• (1:41) Introduction to the “Copy Attachment” feature in PowerDMS
• (1:55) What types of attachments can be copied? (Spoiler: all of them!)
• (2:10) Step-by-step instructions for using the copy tool
• (3:37) Real-world examples: Use of Force policies, Property & Evidence policies, recurring notes
• (4:20) Why this feature is a game-changer for saving time and boosting consistency
• (4:35) Want to see it in action? Areaka shares how to access the video + visual guide
• (4:46) Final thoughts and call to action

📥 Download the How-To Guide + Video Tutorial

Download the step-by-step instructions and watch a quick tutorial video here:

👉 Download Customization Guide

🔗 Stay Connected:

🌐 Website: www.areakajewell.com

📘 Facebook: Accreditation Academy

📸 Instagram: @accreditationacademy

💼 LinkedIn: Areaka Jewell

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review on your favorite podcast platform, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new tip!

Have you subscribed to my free Accreditation Academy Content Hub inside PowerDMS, where I share curated accreditation related content on a weekly basis? If not, here is the link to signup: https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup