Alliance Work Partners
The accreditation process assures employers and their employees that they’re receiving “best practice” standards of care from credentialed counselors who have the necessary training for crisis intervention.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 01, 2016
Alliance Work Partners (AWP), a non-profit program and provider of world-class employee assistance programs (EAP), announces that its Call Center was accredited by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). AAS is a leader in the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention, through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services. AAS accreditation validates the quality, depth, range and consistency of the services the AWP Call Center provides to effectively intervene when callers present with life-threatening behaviors.
More EAPs are seeing increases in “high risk” or “crisis counseling” (which can include suicide, domestic violence, extreme emotional distress, etc.), placing greater importance on the proven ability to address these behaviors in a timely, efficient and, ultimately, effective manner. As one of the nation’s only AAS-accredited EAPs, AWP underwent a year-long evaluation process, which was based on satisfying seven core criteria, including: organization structure, its ability to provide the necessary resources for handling life-threatening crises, processes for training, evaluation and professional development of crisis workers on staff, as well as service delivery/support, community integration and professional ethics.
“Over the past couple of years we’ve seen a growing percentage of high risk cases, a trend that prompted us to enlist the AAS for an objective look at our systems and procedures in order to assure that our call center is offering the most responsive and professional assessment, referral and intervention,” said Dr. Scott Terres, Vice President of AWP. “The accreditation process assures employers and their employees that they’re receiving “best practice” standards of care from credentialed counselors who have the necessary training for crisis intervention. It also confirms our commitment to continuous quality improvement, an ongoing process that has driven AWP for over 35 years.”
In addition to assuring minimum standards of service for persons in crisis, AAS accreditation offers the following benefits:
- Validates service delivery programs that are performing according to nationally recognized standards
- AAS accreditation examiners offer consultation tailored to the needs of an individual program, its staff and board
- The increased visibility and credibility of an AAS-accredited program provide opportunities for modeling of program excellence to other agencies and professionals
- AAS accreditation provides a morale boost for staff working in the field of crisis intervention
- AAS-accredited programs have additional credibility with funding agencies and insurance companies
- Programs seeking AAS accreditation have access to criteria for systematic, ongoing self-evaluation
- People in life-threatening and other crises who obtain service from AAS-accredited programs are assured that staff has seriously examined their commitment to provide service according to recognized standards
For more on AWP, visit http://www.awpnow.com.
About Alliance Work Partners (AWP)
Alliance Work Partners, a division of the 501(c)(3) non-profit Workers Assistance Program, Inc., has been outfitting workplaces with healthier, more productive employees and lowering healthcare costs by providing world-class employee assistance programs (EAP) since 1977.
Alliance Work Partners offers employees and their families solution-focused counseling, guidance, training, resources and referrals to help balance work with life and increase health and wellbeing.
Alliance Work Partners is headquartered in Austin, Texas.