introduction to coa accreditation

An Introduction COA Accreditation

March 11 © Council on Accreditation 2005 All Rights Reserved 2

Who is COA?

• Independent

• Accredit full array of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations

• Private, non-profit established in 1977 by CWLA and ACF

• More than 1500 private and public organizations accredited or in process

• All 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, the Philippines, Great Britain


Characteristics of COA Accreditation

• Open, facilitative, collaborative process

• Person-centered service delivery

• Four – year accreditation

• Process takes 12-18 months

• Volunteer professionals

• Includes all programs and services

• Review of all aspects of an organizations operations

• Several opportunities to show implementation...and correct problems

March 11 4


Types of Organizations Seeking Accreditation

• Nonprofits

• For-profits

• Public Agencies

– State, County, Municipal

• Tribal Programs

• Network Lead Agencies

• Intercountry Adoption


Standards Websites

• Private Organization 8th Edition Standards

• Public Agency 8th Edition Standards

– www.coastandards.org

• Canadian Organization 8th Edition Standards

– www.coacanadastandards.org

• After School Program Standards

– www.coaafterschool.org

http://www.coastandards.org/

http://www.coacanadastandards.org/

http://www.coaafterschool.org/


Services We Accredit

• Child and Family Services

• Mental Health Services

• Substance Abuse / Opiod Treatment

• Aging Services

• Homeless Services

• Services for the Developmentally Disabled

• Juvenile Justice

• Service-Provider Networks

• Credit Counseling Services

• Hague Inter-country Adoption

• After School Programs


The Benefits of Accreditation

10

External Recognition

Governmental– Deemed Status

– Accreditation Mandates

– Tiered Reimbursement

– Training or Financial Support

The Field – Sponsoring and Supporting Organizations

– United Ways

Insurance and Managed Care – Blue Cross / Blue Shield

– Magellan, Managed Health Services, Behavioral Health Services, Inc.

Foundations


COA Recognition in Ohio

After School Programs Tiered Reimbursement The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Bureau of Child Care and Development

Mental Health Deemed Status The Ohio Department of Mental Health

Contractor MandateThe Ohio Department of Mental Health

Residential Treatment Facilities Medicaid Mandate

Substance Abuse Contractor Mandate The Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services

Sponsor Organizations

• Alliance for Children and Families

• Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies

• Catholic Charities USA

• Child Welfare League of America

• Children's Home Society of America

• Foster Family-based Treatment Assn

• Joint Council on International Adoption

• Lutheran Services in America

• National Council on Adoption

• National Foundation for Consumer Credit

• National Network for Youth

• National Organization of State Associations for Children

• Volunteers of America

Supporting Organizations

• American Association of Children's Residential Centers

• ANCOR

• Child Welfare League of Canada

• Eagle Program of United Methodist Assn

• Employee Assistance Society of North America

• Mental Health Corporations of America

• National Association for Children's Behavioral Health

• National Assn of Social Workers

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

• National Assn of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors

• National Assn of Therapeutic Wilderness Therapy Programs

• National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare


COA Standards


COA's 8th Edition Standards

• Rigorous, Relevant, Realistic

• Developed by the field

• Goal statements -- don't have to be perfect

• Describe WHAT not HOW

• Core set of administration and management standards


How Are Standards Developed?

• Extensive review of literature

• Expert consensus

– National Standards Advisory Panels

• Program visits

• Direct feedback from stakeholders

• Field Review


Expert Panels

• Administration and Management

• Adult Guardianship

• Aging Services

• Behavioral Healthcare

• Board Standards

• Child and Family Services

• Child Guardianship

• Community Building

• Developmental Disabilities

• Domestic Violence

• Employee Assistance Programs

• Financial Management and Debt Counseling

• Guardianship of Minors

• Juvenile Justice

• Native American, Aboriginal, and

First Nation Children and Family

Services

• Network Standards

• Outcomes Measurement and

Quality Improvement

• Owner-Operated Organizations

• Public Agency

• Vocational Rehabilitation

• Wilderness Therapy

• Workforce Development

www.coastandards.org



www.coanet.org


Administration & Management

Administration and Management

– Ethical Practice

– Financial Management

– Governance

– Human Resources

– Network Administration

– Performance and Quality Improvement

– Risk Prevention and Management

Service Delivery Administration

– Administrative and Service Environment

– Behavior Support and Management

– Client Rights

– Training and Supervision


Service Standards: Common Elements

• Access / Outreach

• Assessment

• Service Planning

• Service Philosophy

• Service Elements

• Case Closing

• Aftercare and Follow-up

• Personnel


COA Accreditation Process


Steps in the Process

Step 1 – Application

Step 2 – Assessment/ Establishing Context

Step 3 – Self-Process

Step 4 – Site VisitStep 5 –Ratings

Report

Step 6 – The Accreditation Commission

Step 7 – Maintaining Accreditation

• Verification of eligibility

• Accreditation agreement and fee

• Description of rights and responsibilities

Step 1 - Application

Step 2 - Assessment

• Match programs to COA's service standards

• Establish important dates and milestones– Site Visit 6-9 months

• The Heart of the accreditation process

• Evaluate practices against standards

• Prepare Self-Study Document

Step 3 - Self-Study

Step 4 - Site Visit

• 2-3 peer reviewers for 2-3 days

• Activities– Interview staff, Board, stakeholders

– Review documents and records

– Visit programs

– Observe staff/client interactions

• Summarizes important findings

• Specific recommendations

Step 5 - Ratings Report

Step 6 - Accreditation Commission

• Reviews site visit report and orgs response

• Makes accreditation decision

Step 7 - Maintaining Accreditation

• Maintain and sustain implementation

• Annual report

Council on Accreditation120 Wall Street, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10005telephone 1-866-262-8088

Joe Frisino: [email protected]

COAnet: www.coanet.org

COA Standards: www.coastandards.org

Canadian Standards: www.coacanadastandards.org

After School Standards: www.coaafterschool.org

mailto:[email protected]

introduction to coa accreditation

Business