FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Melissa Breckenridge
Brevard Family Partnership, Public Relations Manager
2301 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Ste. 104
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: 321-752-4650 ext. 3047
Melissa.Breckenridge@brevardfp.org
Brevard C.A.R.E.S. Receives Expedited Reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation
Rockledge, FL – November 14, 2017 – Brevard C.A.R.E.S. has received reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), identifying Brevard County’s child abuse prevention and family preservation organization as one that has set high performance standards for itself and has made a commitment to their constituents to deliver the highest quality services.
Coveted by nonprofit organizations seeking to be recognized for excellence, COA accreditation is an objective and reliable verification that provides confidence and support to an organization’s service recipients, board members, staff, and community partners. The accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of both an organization’s administrative operations and its service delivery practices. All are “measured” against national standards of best practice. These standards emphasize services that are accessible, appropriate, culturally responsive, evidence based, and outcomes-oriented, In addition, they confirm that the services are provided by a skilled and supported workforce and that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
In a letter to Brevard C.A.R.E.S. Executive Director, Phebe Powell, COA President and CEO Richard Klarberg wrote, “On behalf of the Council on Accreditation (COA), I am delighted to inform you that Brevard C.A.R.E.S has been reaccredited. In addition, Brevard C.A.R.E.S was expedited through the Pre-Commission Review Report (PCR) process as a result of not receiving any out of compliance ratings in any of the fundamental practice standards. Congratulations on this amazing achievement.”
The process to achieve accreditation took over a year of strategic effort and commitment and included Brevard C.A.R.E.S. self-assessment and reporting on its operations, programs and services, and policies and procedures. It also included recent site visits by COA reviewers who reviewed and validated all of Brevard C.A.R.E.S.’ data and interviewed several staff members.
About 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). The mission of COA is to partner with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards. They envision excellence in the delivery of human services globally, resulting in the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
About Brevard C.A.R.E.S.
The mission of Brevard C.A.R.E.S. (Coordination, Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support) is to prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting and strengthening families so that they can remain together in the community. Brevard C.A.R.E.S. is a family-centered, strength-based, and community-driven model for child abuse prevention and family preservation. The program’s unique “Wraparound” approach and Family Team Conferencing offers services and support to families experiencing stressors that could lead to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
The program has had a positive impact on the families and children, helping to prevent situations or events that would result in a child being removed from his or her home. Its success is due to the proactive participation of the families in need who openly engage in the process, building upon the successes and skills within their family unit that will sustain them long term.
Since inception, Brevard C.A.R.E.S. has provided support to over 15,000 children representing more than 6,000 families in Brevard County. Less than 10% of families have been referred to Brevard C.A.R.E.S. more than once.
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