Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries has achieved national Reaccreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). Connie Maxwell was first accredited by COA five years ago and spent the past 18 months working to achieve Reaccreditation. Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best-practice standards in the field of human services. COA evaluated all aspects of Connie Maxwell’s programs, services, management, and administration.
An email received December 14 from COA President and CEO Jody Levison-Johnson stated, “Reaccreditation is a tremendous achievement that demonstrates that your organization is recognized as a provider that continues to successfully implement high-performance standards and, as such, is delivering the highest quality services to all of its stakeholders.”
This reaccreditation comes on the launch of a new strategic plan, A Decade of Dreams, with a goal to become a national leader in understanding trauma and mental health on a deeper level through research, education, and implementation of best practices.
“This is great affirmation that we are on the right track in our efforts to pursue the highest level of excellence in all of our programs,” said Connie Maxwell President William D. Nicholson II.
COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international best practice standards. 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.
To achieve COA accreditation, Connie Maxwell first provided written evidence of compliance with the COA standards. Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with trustees, staff, and clients.
Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted that Connie Maxwell had successfully met the criteria for accreditation.
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. Over 2,000 organizations — voluntary, public, and proprietary; local and statewide; large and small — have either successfully achieved COA accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. Presently, COA has 47 service standards that are applicable to over 125 different types of programs. To learn more about COA, please visit www.coanet.org.
Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries offers residential care, crisis care, foster care, and family care services throughout South Carolina. Connie Maxwell has been providing services to children and families since 1892.
