Partnership for Families, Children and Adults has achieved national accreditation through the New York- based Council on Accreditation (COA).
Partnership provides over 20 programs to the Greater Chattanooga area through five centers of service: Youth, Elder, Victim Support, Deaf, and Stability. These separate by complementary services serve a broad-spectrum of individuals from foster children to impoverished families and victims of domestic and sexual assault with services such as emergency and permanent housing, case management, counseling, court advocacy and job placement.
COA has accredited 1241 agencies nationwide, with only two accredited organizations in Chattanooga, including Partnership. COA evaluated all aspects of Partnership’s services, management and administration. 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 standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are wellcoordinated, 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 increased organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.
An endorsement of COA and the value of its accreditation is reflected in it being named by the US State Department as the sole national independent accrediting body under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to accredit intercountry adoption service providers. In addition, COA is the only national accreditor designated by the US Department of Defense to develop accreditation standards and processes for human service programs provided to military personnel and their families.