Increasing Consumer Confidence through Accreditation

When a consumer has made the life changing decision to seek treatment for a mental health or substance usage issue or a parent/spouse/friend is struggling with where their loved one will receive safe and quality care, treatment or services, national accreditation of an organization can be re-assuring.   Increasing the confidence of the consumer or significant other is a significant benefit of accreditation.  Accreditation signals to the consumer/significant other that the organization’s physical environment has been surveyed for safety and its service delivery, surveyed for quality.  After this rigorous survey, the organization has been awarded accreditation based on its compliance with standards for safety and quality of care, treatment or services. For this reason, an accredited organization may post its accreditation status on its website and proudly display its accreditation award certificate in its main entrance(s).  A brief overview of the meaning of accreditation and the accreditation process is often provided to consumers/significant others verbally or in an admissions brochure. Each accrediting body’s logo includes a symbol of approval which an accredited organization may add on its social media and marketing materials.  Accrediting bodies post on their websites a list of accredited organizations so that key stakeholders including consumers/significant others can locate safe and quality care, treatment or services.

Accreditation tells the consumer/significant other that your organization has gone beyond basic state licensing requirements to achieve a higher level of safety and quality of care, treatment or services based on industry standards.

To read more on the advantages of accreditation, click here.

For questions and assistance with your accreditation and/or post accreditation, please contact us at 212.209.0240 or email Rocio@AccreditationGuru.com

What does it mean to “live” accreditation?

Achieving national accreditation is more than passing a test. Navigating the road to accreditation requires a service provider to commit to quality improvement, focus on the unique needs of each person the provider serves and monitor the results of services. It announces to the world that your organization strives to be the best it can be. That’s hard work, but the process sets you on the course for long-term greatness.

Organizations are best served to approach accreditation as investment in their future. It helps to raise the bar internally and not only creates a more stable entity, but one that can more effectively manage growth in the future. Once achieved, if a human service provider truly “lives” accreditation (embraces and applies enhanced operational and program practices) it will strengthen their ability to improve the lives of the people they serve.

To read more on the advantages of accreditation, click here.

For questions and assistance with your accreditation and/or post accreditation, please contact us at 212.209.0240 or email Jennifer Flowers.

Accreditation Guru’s 10th Anniversary Video!

In celebration of 10 years in business, we put together this video to explain who we are and what we do. We are fortunate to work with dedicated people who help those in need and to have a great team of experts by our side.

Is it important to educate your board of directors? YES!

Education forms the foundation from which most everything else is created, making it one of the wisest investments a nonprofit can expend its precious resources on. Nowhere is this truer than taking the time to educate your board of directors so that they are best prepared to serve your organization and help with mission fulfillment.

If you have questions about how Accreditation Guru can help you and your board of directors, please contact us at 212.209.0240 or Info@AccreditationGuru.com.

Using a consultant to help with the accreditation process

 

When beginning on the road to national accreditation, many organizations struggle with the extra workload involved and a general unfamiliarity with the accreditation process. As a result, they may decide to work with an accreditation consultant to help with the heavy lifting involved. Our video outlines what to look for when considering hiring a consultant, including success rates, reputation and the amount of customization available for your organization.

If you have questions about how Accreditation Guru can help your agency proactively prepare for accreditation, please contact us at 212.209.0240 or Info@AccreditationGuru.com.

Ideas to motivate staff beyond money.

 

In this video we discuss the importance of finding out what personally motivates your employees as part of the mix of how you might encourage them beyond solely monetary benefits.

Nonprofit Audit Committee Benefits: Why your nonprofit should have one

Nonprofit Audit Committee Benefits Summary

  • Best practice to have a nonprofit audit committee to provide accountability for organization’s independent audit
    • finance committee is responsible for monitoring the organization’s financial status
    • audit committee is given authority for overseeing the organization’s external audit process.
  • To ensure that the audit process is objective, an audit committee should be an “independent” body, meaning that no one on this committee is also employed by the nonprofit
    • Directly responsible for the selection, retention and oversight of the independent auditor
    • Having an audit committee lends to the transparency of the organization to the outside world via reporting on the IRS Form 990; all 990 tax returns for charitable orgs are publicly posted online.

Want to learn more? Read our article “Why Your Nonprofit Needs an Audit Committee.”