FARGO – The Village Family Service Center has achieved national accreditation again through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. The Village, which offers mental health counseling, addiction treatment, and more, has been accredited since 1982.
COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. Its standards 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 promotes ongoing quality improvement.
To achieve COA accreditation, The Village first provided written evidence of compliance with COA standards. Then a group of specially trained volunteer peer reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of interviews with trustees, staff and clients. Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted that The Village had successfully met the criteria for accreditation.
“I am excited and proud of our staff at The Village Family Service Center for obtaining this national accreditation,” President and CEO Jeff Pederson said. “It speaks volumes to their commitment to assure the highest standards are being met in every program we offer. It also demonstrates the excellence in services received by people served by The Village at all our locations.”
Founded in 1977, COA is an independent, not-for-profit accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations in the United States and Canada. COA has a total of 47 service standards that are applicable to over 125 different types of programs. To learn more about COA, visit www.coanet.org.
The Village Family Service Center strengthens kids and families across Minnesota and North Dakota through behavioral health services, including mental health counseling, in-home family therapy, financial counseling, an employee assistance program and more.