Shelter, Inc. has achieved national accreditation through COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current. Shelter, Inc. is a child welfare agency that works to end the cycle of child abuse and neglect through comprehensive and community-based services for children and families at risk and in need.
Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA Accreditation evaluated all aspects of Shelter Inc.’s programs, services, management, and administration.
COA Accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The 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.
Shelter, Inc. Executive Director Carina H. Santa Maria, MSW, LCSW shared, “COA reviewers conducted a meticulous evaluation, reviewing more than 700 items related to all aspects of our business. Receiving accreditation is not only a testament to the quality of Shelter, Inc. but also a crucial requirement for sustaining our contracts with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).”
COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, 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. Over 2,000 organizations have either successfully achieved accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. Learn more at www.socialcurrent.org.
Founded in 1975, Shelter, Inc. is a leader in Chicagoland for providing emotional and physical care, programs, and services that children need to build safer, healthier, and brighter futures. Shelter Inc. is the only agency in Illinois to provide comprehensive and community-based services for children and families at risk and in need. Programs include emergency housing, transitional living, foster care, home visiting and clinical support services. Learn more at www.shelter-inc.org.