Children & Families of Iowa is Accredited!
The Value of Accreditation
Every four years Children & Families of Iowa undergoes a re-accreditation process with the Council on Accreditation (COA). COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit accrediting body of social and behavioral health care services. The COA accreditation process involves an in-depth examination of our compliance with best practice standards. It means that we meet high national standards for program excellence and service to our communities. We are proud to be one of only a handful of Iowa organizations who can claim the distinction of COA Accreditation.
In our current outcomes-oriented environment, organizations are increasingly called upon to demonstrate the impact of their services. Accreditation is designed to be a framework within which an organization can measure a variety of its achievements. The value and credibility of COA accreditation are formally recognized in over one hundred distinct instances in forty-four different states, the District of Columbia, as well as British Columbia, Canada.
To find out more about COA and the accreditation process, please visit the COA website at www.coanet.org.
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About the Council on Accreditation (COA)
COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioral healthcare accrediting organization. It was founded in 1977 by the Child Welfare League of America and Family Service America (now the Alliance for Children and Families). Originally known as an accrediting body for family and children's agencies, COA currently accredits 38 different service areas and over 60 types of programs. Among the service areas are substance abuse treatment, adult day care, services for the homeless, foster care, and inter-country adoption.
In addition to standards for private social service and behavioral health care organizations, COA has developed separate business lines for public agencies, networks and lead management entities, opioid treatment programs, employee assistance programs, and financial management/debt counseling services.
COA views accreditation as a catalyst for change that builds on an organization's strengths and helps it achieve better results in all areas. The accreditation process is designed to meet the needs of diverse organizations. An organization is evaluated against best-practice standards, which are developed using a consensus model with input from a wide range of service providers, funders, experts, policymakers and consumers.