OUR STRUCTURE
Our structure is set up to allow programs to
be accredited in an unbiased manner. The Accreditation
Process begins with the Review teams, which are made up
of personnel matched to the needs of the program they are
accrediting. We attempt to select members of the team who
have knowledge of similar programs within their own
organizations. This team will spend time reviewing the
policy and procedures manual of the organization they are
visiting, followed by an on-site visit to review the
practices of the program. These results will then be written
in a report that is presented to our Accreditation Panel
without any identifying remarks. In other words, in order to
ensure that each program is evaluated in an unbiased manner,
we blind the Accreditation Panel to the identity of the
organization they are accrediting. The program is also given
the chance to submit a response, which is a written document
addressing the findings of the Review Team. If the
findings are favourable, then the Accreditation Panel will
decide whether to grant a 1, 3, or 4 year accreditation
status to the program. If there are concerns with the
program, the Accreditation Panel can either defer and allow
for a follow-up visit to take place, giving the program a
chance to address the concerns, or the program can be
denied, either at the initial Panel or after a follow-up
visit. We also have a separate Appeal Committee, which can
be convened for any organization which wishes to appeal the
findings of the Accreditation Panel.
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In order to maintain consistency and remain current, we also
have a Process Review Committee, which is convened 4-6 times
a year to review the standards and process of accreditation
and make any needed adjustments. The changes that are agreed
upon are then sent to the CAC Board of Directors to be
ratified and added to our current standards. In this way we
maintain our standards as a living document, changing as the
human services sector changes. |
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