accreditation

Accreditation

What does it mean to be accredited?
When the service or program you choose is
CARF-accredited, it means your provider has
passed an in-depth review of its services. It is
your assurance that the provider meets rigorous
CARF guidelines forservice and quality -- a qualified
endorsement that your provider conforms to nationally
and internationally recognized service standards and is focused on delivering the most favorable results for you.

A hallmark of quality
After an organization applies for accreditation of its services or programs, CARF sends professionals in the field to conduct an on-site survey to determine the degree to which the organization meets the standards. CARF surveyors also consult with staff members and offer suggestions for improving the quality of services.

CARF-accredited programs and services have demonstrated that they substantially meet internationally recognized standards. CARF accreditation means that you can be confident that an organization has made a commitment to continually enhance the quality of its services and programs and its focus on the satisfaction of the persons served.

The benefits of accreditation to the consumer of services
Choosing CARF-accredited programs and services gives you the assurance that:

The programs and services actively involve consumers in selecting, planning, and using services.
The organization's programs and services have met consumer-focused, state-of-the-art national standards of performance.
These standards were developed with the involvement and input of consumers.
The organization is focused on assisting each consumer in achieving his or her chosen goals and outcomes.

"Reproduced with permission from CARF"
Copyright CARF © 2005. All rights reserved.

What is quality?
CARF-accredited service providers meet the highest national and international standards for quality, such as employing qualified professional staff. CARF accreditation demonstrates quality on a more personal level -- your seal of satisfaction.

You want quality in the things you buy, in the things you produce, and in your life in general. You want it in the services you select for yourself, your family members, and your friends.

But what is quality?
The answer to this question is different for every person. Some commonly accepted values of quality for service providers include the following:

The organization asks you, the customer, if you are satisfied with your services. The organization believes that only the customer can evaluate quality.
Service planning is done by teams that include you and design your plan to meet your unique needs and preferences.
The organization is responsive to your questions about your plan and services, and it makes sure that you have and understand the information you need.
Service plans are individualized to meet your needs as a unique person.
The mission and purpose of the organization reflect an attitude of "The customer is always right and should be delighted by the services provided and the service provider."

By asking questions and observing the service provider in action, you can get an idea of whether the provider delivers the quality services you would like to receive.

"Reproduced with permission from CARF"
Copyright CARF © 2005. All rights reserved.

What is accreditation?
When a service provider asks for CARF accreditation, it sets a rigorous consultative process in motion. That process includes the full resources and experience of our internationally recognized organization and, importantly, the people who use these services.

You can begin your search for quality services by making sure that the services you are considering are accredited. Accreditation is a good sign that an organization cares about delivering quality services to its customers. You can think of accreditation as a "seal of quality" that the organization's services have been awarded because they have delivered positive results.

You probably already know the idea of accreditation. You may have gone to an accredited school or received medical treatment from an accredited hospital or clinic. Also, many of the products and services you buy every day have been evaluated by an impartial group for quality and safety. For example, you may have looked at Consumer Reports before buying a car or household appliance.

A CARF-accredited organization shows commitment to continually improving its services.

How can CARF accreditation help you find quality services? CARF accredits the services of an organization only if those services meet the CARF standards in the CARF standards manual. The CARF accreditation process promotes the highest standards of quality.