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CFEC achieves ‘gold star’ accreditation

Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre has improved family, child services

By Rita Giesbrecht

It’s probably true that most folks do not spend a lot of time wondering what the standardization for not-for-profit agencies that deliver social services, like the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC), are, how they are established, and who monitors them for success.

There is a process, however, and it is called “accreditation.” Accreditation can be done by several different agencies, depending on the organization being accredited.

The CFEC is accredited by the Council of Accreditation, which is an international organization with a comprehensive and very sophisticated process. There is extensive documentation of evidence provided by the organization, and several days of on-site review by an accreditation team.

This is a rigorous process that covers policies, procedures, quality of delivery, client results and experiences, administrative practices and, really, every aspect of the organization.

Four years ago, CFEC achieved accreditation with a few areas for possible improvement. With a goal of reaching a level of performance that registered a much higher standard, CFEC executive director Lisa De Paoli with her staff and the board of directors playing a key role, set about identifying and improving on policy, procedures, programming, practices, and above all client care.

The result this year has the entire organization busting its buttons with pride of achievement because when the review came in, it was the biggest, brightest gold star that CFEC could possibly have achieved.

Some of the written comments from the Accreditation Team in the final report included:

CFEC clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting the rights of its clients, and their practices reflect a profound respect for the personal dignity, confidentiality, and privacy, of the people they serve.

CFEC is thoughtful and has focused attention to hire the most qualified individuals who have enriched the staffing and services to families.

CFEC has a positive and resourceful reputation for the quality, diversity, breadth, and client-centred services.

There is a culture of openness, honest transparency in all organization practices.

There is more, but what it all means is the CFEC is delivering the highest possible standard of care for the most vulnerable children, youth, and families in the South Cariboo.

This in no sense means that any person in CFEC plans to dust off their hands and call the job “done.” The accreditation review team suggested, and we agree whole-heartedly, that now is the time to push forward on the momentum that has carried our level of service this far, and become even more effective community builders than before.

Now, we can do that with the added encouragement that within the context of what we do, where and how we do it, we do it as well as anyone in North America, according to our peers and colleagues all over Canada and the United States.

Rita Giesbrecht is the co-chair of the CFEC board of directors.