Algoma Family Services achieves CCA accreditation

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA FAMILY SERVICES

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Algoma Family Services (AFS) is proud to announce it has been awarded a four year accreditation by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA). This great achievement marks the fourth accreditation for AFS and its first one through the CCA. The accreditation serves to reinforce to our clients, our community partners and also our funders the commitment by team AFS to the delivery of high quality services and continuous quality improvement.

“To be CCA Accredited is truly a seal of approval,” says AFS Board Chair, Sherrill Dewar. “Our stakeholders can be assured that we have undergone an extensive internal and external review process that measures our practices against sector and industry standards. By choosing to go through the CCA accreditation process, AFS is demonstrating its accountability to the community and its commitment to providing the highest quality programs and services.”

Full accreditation requires 100 per cent compliance in 68 mandatory standards and a minimum of 80 per cent compliance in 72 leading practice standards. AFS achieved 100 per cent compliance in all mandatory standards and 100 per cent compliance in all leading practice standards.

“The accreditation process ensures that we are providing the highest level of service fidelity in an environment of continuous learning and quality improvement," says Brenda Clarke, AFS accreditation lead. "We are extremely proud of the work that our staff does every day in delivering quality, innovative programs to our community.”

“Being CCA Accredited reflects the extraordinary dedication and commitment by our team to their professionalism, growth and passion for their work. With increasing pressure for public accountability, participation in the accreditation process afforded us the opportunity to demonstrate our competencies over a range of professional standards. While no easy feat to prepare for accreditation, our team worked diligently during a period of incredible change at AFS, which speaks to how truly remarkable our people are at AFS,” boasts Ali Juma, CEO Algoma Family Services.

Over the last two years, AFS has attained Lead Agency designation as a Child and Youth Mental Health Agency (August 2015), unveiled a new strategic plan (October 2016), initiated a number of new community partnerships (Walk-in Counselling Service), reorganized its leadership structure, realigned internal reporting relationships, restructured board committees, and currently is in the process of transforming its service delivery model to improve access to services.

AFS is a multi-service agency providing specialized services to infants, children, youth, adults and families in the District of Algoma. Funded and regulated by government, AFS is governed by a voluntary board of directors. In 2015/16, AFS received 3,742 service requests and has experienced a 22 per cent increase in service demand over the last five years.

“With our accreditation, we have demonstrated our commitment to excellence in the context of unprecedented service demand. We are doing our part from a service delivery perspective; we need government to do their part in ensuring we have sufficient financial resources to meet demand and maintain our awesome team,” says Juma.

The Annual General Meeting for AFS will be held on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:45 p.m. in the AFS boardroom. The public is welcomed to attend. If interested, please confirm attendance with Rosemary Gardiner at [email protected], or by phone at 705-945-5050 ext. 2011.

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