CHD Programs Earn CARF Accreditation
SPRINGFIELD — CHD, the region’s largest social service organization, has been awarded a three-year Accreditation from CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) for the following programs and services:
• Adult Mental Health (AMH) programs in Springfield, Holyoke, Hartford and Waterbury;
• Department of Disability Services (DDS) programs (Meadows Home and Outreach Team); and
• All Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OBHS) clinics
Other CHD programs will be surveyed for CARF accreditation in time.
CARF is an independent, international, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. An organization receiving a CARF three-year accreditation, such as CHD was awarded, has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.
“We are proud that, in addition to our own high internal standards, CHD has been recognized by an esteemed, independent organization. CHD earned the highest level of CARF accreditation that can be awarded to an organization like ours,” said Jim Goodwin, president & CEO of CHD. “Attaining and maintaining CARF-accredited status requires a significant effort, strong teamwork, and a commitment at all levels of our organization to providing quality services and enhancing the lives of the people we serve. CHD is very proud to have earned this accreditation, especially since this happened during our first application.”
Said Jennifer Higgins, Ph.D., Director, Strategic Planning and Business Development for CHD, “by achieving CARF accreditation, CHD has demonstrated that it meets high, independent standards for quality and is committed to pursuing excellence.
“One component of the CARF accreditation process involves producing a quality improvement plan. As part of that process, CHD plans to further entrench the concept of cultural competency throughout our organization,” she went on. “As one example, we presently have at least one bilingual Spanish-English interpreter at each CHD location and we will evaluate opportunities to expand that capability to include interpreters who speak other languages, such as Russian and Vietnamese. CHD feels strongly about this commitment to