A Brief Introduction to COA Accreditation Joe Frisino Zoë Hutchinson

A Brief Introduction to COA Accreditation Joe Frisino Zoë Hutchinson Philip Gorelick

Learning Objectives By the end of this training you should be able to: 1. Describe the key characteristics of COA accreditation 2. Name and describe the seven steps in COA's accreditation process 3. Find basic information on COA's website 2

Agenda 1 2 3 4 Who is COA? The Benefits Of Accreditation The Accreditation Process COA Standards 3

1 Who is COA 4

Who is COA? National, private, non-profit Established in 1977 Accredits full range of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations 1800 private and public organizations accredited or in process 5

What is Accreditation? National Consensus-Based Standards Self-Study Process Site Visit Conducted by Review Team Fair, Objective and Open Decision-Making Checks and Balances and Opportunities to Correct Deficiencies 6

Characteristics of COA Accreditation Open, Facilitative, Collaborative Four – Year Accreditation Reviews All Programs and Services In-depth Review of Operations & Service Delivery Process Takes 14-18 Months Standards / Accreditation Materials Free Open Book Test 7

Programs and Services We Accredit Homeless Services Mental Health Services Substance Abuse Child and Family Services Aging Services Services for the People with Developmental Disabilities 8

www.COAnet.org

For basic information about COA accreditation open the "Accreditation" Drop-Down Menu 10

SSVF programs To Review COA Standards open the "Standards" DropDown Menu 11

For information about COA Training and other resources open the "Training & Resources" DropDown Menu

Suggested Free Trainings Name of Training Introduction to COA and the Private Organization Accreditation Process Webinar Dates & Times Self-Paced Available May 1, 3-4 PM ET COA Accreditation: Getting Started Get Organized! Creating Your Accreditation Workplan: All Editions May 8, 3-5 PM ET Format and Structure COA's Accreditation Standards Assessing Your Practices Against COA Private Organization Standards May 9, 3-4 PM ET email [email protected] to receive ongoing training updates 13

2 Benefits of Accreditation 14

Benefits of Accreditation In-Depth Self Evaluation Builds / Strengthens Organizational Infrastructure Standards address all aspects of management and operational functioning Thorough vetting of procedures and policies Implementation of a framework for ongoing review of performance Adoption of Known Best Practices Research-based standards External Validation of Your Practices Recognition from government agencies, foundations, and insurance companies 15

Q. How has COA Accreditation Benefited Your Organization? Improves accountability and transparency Improves outcomes for persons served Improves the quality of services provided to persons served Improves workforce/staff recruitment and retention Improves organizational reputation with external stakeholders/community Improves organizational marketability Ensures funding Enhances organizational capacity Enhances organizational learning/knowledge 0 a % Agree or Strongly Agree 10 20 30 40 50 n 1425 Responses 60 70 80 90 100

Perspective of an Accredited Organization 17

3 The Accreditation Process 18

Your COA Accreditation Coordinator Single point of contact w/ COA Answer questions Provide feedback and guidance Connect you with resources Help you meet timetable and milestones Help you prepare Self-Study 19

Steps in the Process Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Step 4 – Site Visit 20

Steps in the Process On-line Application Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Step 4 – Site Visit Verification of eligibility Accreditation agreement and fee Description of rights and responsibilities 21

Steps in the Process Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Match programs to COA's service standards Establish important dates and milestones Step 4 – Site Visit 22

Steps in the Process Evaluate practices against standards Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Step 4 – Site Visit Six to Twelve Months On-line Submission of Evidence Eight Weeks Before Site Visit 23

Steps in the Process Minimum of 2-3 peer reviewers for 2-3 days Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Activities Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Step 4 – Site Visit – Interview Staff, Board, Stakeholders – Review Documents and Records – Visit Programs, Observe Staff/Client Interactions 24

Steps in the Process Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Summarizes important Site Visit findings Provides specific recommendations for additional work as necessary Step 4 – Site Visit 25

Steps in the Process Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Reviews site visit report and orgs response Makes accreditation decision Step 4 – Site Visit 26

Steps in the Process Step 1: Accreditation Agreement Step 7: Maintaining Accreditation Step 6: Accreditation Decision Step 5: Ratings Report Step 2: Intake Step 3: Self-Study Maintain and sustain implementation Annual Maintenance of Accreditation Report Step 4 – Site Visit 27

4 COA Standards 28

COA Standards Rigorous, Relevant, Realistic Developed by the Field Goal Statements -- Don't Have to be Perfect Describe What not How This is the Essence of "Contextual Accreditation" 29

Categories of COA Standards N/A for SSVF 31

Case Management SSVF programs will at a minimum, be assigned Case Management (CM) Service Section 33

Standards Example: CM 7 34

Cost of Accreditation Fee Information on the Website – Application Fee – Accreditation Fee – Site Visit Fee – Maintenance of Accreditation Fee 35

Suggested Next Steps Speak with Client Relations (Zoë) Request a Cost Estimate Request an Initial Assessment of Service Standards Visit www.COAnet.org Review the Standards Review the Accreditation Guidelines (“Where to get started”) Attend a COA Training or Webinar Assessing Your Practices Against COA's Standards Get Organized: Creating an Accreditation Work Plan Intensive Accreditation Training Getting Started Self Paced Training 36

Thank You Joe Frisino: [email protected] Zoë Hutchinson: [email protected] Phillip Gorelick: [email protected] Council on Accreditation 45 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10006 toll free 866.262.8088 www.COAnet.org