St. Anne’s Achieves National Accreditation Through Council on Accreditation (COA)
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 26, 2015 -- St. Anne’s, a renowned Los Angeles charity and a leading social service agency, has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). St. Anne’s is one of only seven nonprofits in Los Angeles and 47 in California to pass this intensive evaluation process. St. Anne’s comprehensive services include: residential treatment care, transitional housing, extended foster care, mental health, early childhood education, family literacy, family preservation, educational and vocational preparation, as well as access to, and collaborations with, other agencies and providers. Tony Walker, St. Anne’s president and CEO remarked, “The accreditation process took nearly two years and passing this rigorous evaluation is a testament to St. Anne’s exceptional programs, integrity and commitment to the children, youth and families we serve.”
Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement. To achieve COA accreditation, St. Anne’s first provided written evidence of compliance with the COA Standards. Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with trustees, staff and clients. One reviewer commented, “Your staff’s conduct, performance and preparation were nothing short of extraordinary.”
ABOUT ST. ANNE’S: St. Anne’s opened in 1908 as a safe refuge for unwed mothers. Today, the organization continues as a guiding light for some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable children, youth and families and offers comprehensive services to ensure child safety and build strong families. St. Anne’s is one of the only remaining agencies in Los Angeles County committed to a forgotten population – pregnant and parenting young women in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems – and one of the only providers of extended foster care. St. Anne’s goal is to strengthen families from the inside out and to nurture the safety, success and hope of at-risk parents and children.
Claire Veroda, St. Anne's, http://www.stannes.org, +1 2133812931 Ext: 274, [email protected]
Share this article