What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a process that evaluates whether or not an organization or program meets a set of quality standards in the provision of specific services. Unlike certification, which assesses individuals employed in a given field, accreditation evaluates standards at the organizational or program level.
The accreditation process is undertaken by an independent authoritative body and usually involves both self-assessment and peer review of the organization or program. The evaluation results in a work plan that is carried out to ensure that the organization or program is continually striving to meet established quality standards and best practices. Progress on the work plan is regularly reviewed.
Why get accredited?
In addition to ensuring that best practices are being implemented (thereby improving standards and services across the entire continuum of care), accreditation also:
- Provides clients with the assurance that they are receiving the best-quality care,
- Demonstrates accountability and professionalism
- Highlights an organization’s commitment to excellence.
How to get accredited
In Canada, the following organizations provide voluntary accreditation specifically for substance abuse treatment programs at the national level:
The Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA) provides mentorship to organizations seeking to obtain accreditation for Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) through the COA.
In Québec, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS, Québec) has established a voluntary standards and certification framework for private or community organizations providing substance abuse treatment and lodging. There is also legislation mandating all public institutions providing health and social services to be accredited by a recognized body—either Accreditation Canada/Agrément Canada or the Conseil québécois d’agrément (CQA)—every three years.
Top of page
Accreditation Canada drives quality in health services across Canada and internationally by helping organizations assess and improve the quality and safety of the services they provide. Accreditation Canada offers comprehensive, evidence-based standards in a variety of health areas, including substance abuse and problem gambling. The program focuses on a series of quality dimensions―for example, effectiveness, efficiency, safety, work life, continuity and accessibility―and makes it easy for health organizations to integrate ongoing quality improvement initiatives into daily operations.
Organizations are supported throughout the process by Accreditation Canada staff who provide education, advice and technical support. The process is facilitated by interactive online software that simplifies data submission and record keeping and greatly reduces paperwork.
A self-assessment process allows the organization seeking accreditation to identify areas for improvement before the peer review. During the self-assessment, the organization assesses its compliance with national standards in key operational areas such as client and patient care, service delivery, governance, communications, information management and human resources. Following the self-assessment, peer reviewers visit the organization and assess its performance against the standards. This external, objective assessment gives organizations the opportunity to interact with their peers, learn from other perspectives, and identify successes and challenges.
Accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care, Accreditation Canada has helped organizations strive for excellence for more than 50 years.
For more information:
Accreditation Canada
1150 Cyrville Road
Ottawa, ON
K1J 7S9
Tel.: 613-738-3800
Fax: 1-800-814-7769
www.accreditation.ca
Top of page
CARF Canada is incorporated as part of the CARF International group of companies. CARF was founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, but it has since extended its reach beyond rehabilitation as its standards are considered community-oriented. CARF Canada has offices in Edmonton and Ottawa to serve more than 325 accredited organizations delivering a variety of specialized services, including addictions treatment. CARF’s mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services through accreditation that centres on enhancing the lives of persons served.
CARF Canada standards focus on the business practices that need to be in place to ensure organizational viability as well as specific areas of programming. Examples of the latter include crisis intervention and stabilization, detoxification, employee assistance, drug court treatment, community housing and residential treatment.
The self-assessment and collaborative peer review (or survey process) help an organization focus on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Following the survey, accredited organizations must submit a quality improvement plan and must attest annually to the fact that they are still in conformance with the standards.
For more information:
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Canada
10665 Jasper Avenue, Suite 1400A
Edmonton, AB
T5J 3S9
Tel.: 780-429-2538
Toll-free:1-877-434-5444
Fax: 780-426-7274
www.carf.org
Top of page
The Council on Accreditation (COA) partners with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying and promoting accreditation standards.
COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioural health care accrediting organization. COA currently accredits 46 different service areas and more than 60 types of programs in Canada, the United States and England, among other countries. Service areas include substance abuse treatment, adult day care, services for the homeless, foster care and intercountry adoption.
In addition to standards for private social service and behavioural health care organizations, COA has developed separate business lines for public agencies, networks and lead management entities, opioid treatment programs, employee assistance programs, financial education, and counselling services and after-school programs.
COA has written Canadian administration, management and practice standards based on relevance and utility that recognize the unique conditions in which services are delivered.
For more information:
Council on Accreditation (COA)
120 Wall Street, 11th floor
New York, NY
10005
Tel.: 212-797-3000
Toll-free:1-866-262-8088
Fax: 212-797-1428
www.coacanadastandards.org
Top of page
The Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA) introduced an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) accreditation program in July 1990. At that time, full and provisional accreditation was determined by compliance with standards as evaluated by site visits from authorized peer reviewers. The accreditation process required documentation and proof of practice in the following areas: Administration, Program Design and Implementation, Record Keeping, Confidentiality Procedures, Case Management, Staffing and Staff Development, and Evaluation and Research.
In 2001, EASNA worked with the Council on Accreditation (COA) to develop the EAP Standards and Self-Study Manual, 1st Edition, a resource defining the best practice standards in the employee assistance field. EAPs accredited under this first edition were awarded the EASNA accreditation as administered by COA. In 2002, EASNA recognized the merit in having COA become sole custodian of the accreditation process and standards, while EASNA assumed the role of supporting those member organizations seeking accreditation.
Thus, while EASNA is no longer a direct provider of accreditation services, it continues to actively support accreditation for providers of employee assistance programs. Mentoring services are provided to EASNA members seeking COA accreditation.
For more information:
2001 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1004
Arlington, VA 22202-3617
Tel. : 703-416-0010
Fax: 703-416-0014
Email: info@easna.org
Website: www.easna.org
Top of page
The Conseil québécois d'agrément (CQA) is a private, non-profit organization providing accreditation to organizations within the public health and social service sector in Québec. CQA's objectives include supporting the continued improvement of the quality of service offered by these organizations, and publicly certifying that a set of quality requirements are being satisfied in accordance with the laws and regulations of the province of Québec.
For more information:
533, rue Ontario Est,
Bureau 330
Montréal (Québec)
H2L 1N8
Tel.: 514-499-6996
Fax : 514-499-6998
Website: www.agrement-quebecois.ca
Top of page
The Québec government has established a voluntary standards and certification framework for private or community organizations that have been operating for at least two years to provide substance abuse treatment and lodging. The framework addresses standards that are necessary and sufficient for the physical, psychological and moral protection of the population using substance abuse treatment services. Recognized resources receive a certificate of conformity and are registered in the Ministère's list of certified Québec organizations.
For more information:
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux
Direction de la jeunesse et de la toxicomanie
Tel.: 418-266-6830
Website: http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/
In December 2002, the government of Québec passed new legislation amending the Act Respecting Health Services and Social Services, making it mandatory for every public institution to have the health and social services it provides accredited by a recognized body every three years. Institutions recognized as providing health and social services under this act include
- health and social service centres
- hospital centres
- child and youth protection centres
- residential and long-term care centres
- rehabilitation centres
The two bodies formally recognized to provide such accreditation are the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) and the Conseil québécois d'agrément (CQA).
For more information:
Toll-free: 1-800-707-3380
Tel.: 418-266-8900
Website: http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/