Niagara’s children’s treatment and rehabilitation centre has been awarded a coveted three-year accreditation from CARF International, recognizing its excellence in service delivery, client satisfaction, innovative programs, and community involvement. The latest accreditation is the fourth, consecutive three-year accreditation award that CARF International has awarded to the Centre.
The decision signifies the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization, indicating its substantial adherence to CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has gone through a rigorous peer-review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
“I am pleased that the surveyors were able to observe, hear and experience what makes our Centre such a special place,” said Oksana Fisher, CEO, Niagara Children’s Centre. “I am so proud of the work our team does every day, and this accreditation award validates our commitment to delivering family-centred care and ensuring the highest quality of services for our clients.”
CARF International is an independent, non-profit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
CARF surveyors visited the Centre for two days in Dec. 2023, speaking with clients, directors, leadership, employees and community partners along with reviewing extensive documentation of Centre policies and procedures before awarding the three-year accreditation.
“The surveyors consistently heard positive feedback from our staff, the families we serve, our community partners and referral sources,“ said Fisher.
Surveyors described the commitment, enthusiasm, expertise and experience of the organization’s personnel that helped to create an environment of teamwork and respect, resulting in an accessible and supportive environment for families and support systems of children and youth in the care of Niagara Children’s Centre.
The surveyors also highlighted the Centre’s innovative programs and services, including virtual service delivery during the pandemic, transition to school programming facilitating strategy implementation in community classrooms, and the Tiny Talkers program, which alleviated waitlists for speech-language support. This consistent innovation underscores the Children’s Centre’s dedication to adapting to evolving client needs.
CARF also noted how the organization encourages and supports staff in being involved in community outreach events, such as the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, Trunk or Treat, and the Superhero Run. Participation in these activities makes the Centre known even beyond the families and clients it treats and contributes to an overall positive reputation in the community.
Niagara Children’s Centre’s dedication to excellence extends beyond this accreditation, as evidenced by its proactive approach to yearly Quality Improvement Plans and ongoing commitment to maintaining CARF accreditation standards.
Among the programs officially accredited by CARF are Home and Community Services (Pediatric Specialty Program), Interdisciplinary Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Program (Pediatric Specialty), and Governance Standards Applied.
To learn more about CARF International and the accreditation process, visit CARF’s website.
About Niagara Children’s Centre:
Niagara Children’s Centre provided rehabilitation and support services to more than 5,300 children and youth last year across the Niagara Region with physical, developmental and communicative delays. The range of services includes: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation.
About CARF International:
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.
