“It’s incredible to feel the passion of everyone. You are an amazing organization.”
On its own, this remark is very flattering for Five Counties Children’s Centre. But coming as it did from one of the surveyors on the closing day of our accreditation process last November, it’s extra meaningful.
That’s because the accreditation review of Five Counties being done by three accreditors with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) was done entirely virtually over two days last fall. The accreditor who made the comment about the passion at Five Counties picked up on this, even though she was sitting at her home in Maine during the review process!
It appears the positive vibes that flow from our Centre are evident even half a continent away.
Earlier this year, Five Counties learned that it had successfully earned another three-year accreditation through CARF. Accreditation — a sort of “seal of approval” for our families — is not given lightly and follows a rigorous review process.
CARF’s mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services at the organizations it accredits.
An independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human resources founded in 1966, CARF does this through a consultative review process and continuous improvement approach, ensuring an organization being reviewed is laser focused on enhancing the lives of the people it serves.
As part of its accreditation process with Five Counties, CARF accreditors reviewed the centre’s policies and procedures, interviewed staff and volunteers, spoke to clients and parents, conversed with our community partners, and posed questions for our board of directors.
Along with that, CARF also has approximately 2,150 standards upon which it rates an organization going through accreditation.
Five Counties began preparing for the CARF accreditation months before. And while it’s lots of work, accreditation is valuable in seeing how Five Counties measures up. In this case, we scored a resounding 99.3 per cent compliance rate with CARF’s standards, only being cited to improve upon in about a dozen or so minor areas.
We’re not perfect. We can always improve. And that’s why Five Counties chooses to go through the intensive accreditation process with an independent third party every three years.
Accreditation is not required, but it does show that Five Counties is committed to continually improve what we do and how we serve families. In fact, Five Counties was the very first children’s treatment centre in Ontario to be accredited! That was back in 1985, and we’ve maintained accreditation ever since.
CARF accreditation recognizes Five Counties for excellence in service delivery, client satisfaction, innovative programs, and community involvement. While the CARF accreditation plaque hanging on the wall in our centre site may not look like much, there is a lot behind it.
Accreditation is an endorsement that what Five Counties does to serve and support families continues to meet high standards. Our kids and families deserve no less!
