CARF grants accreditation
Posted January 21, 2010
CARF International announced that Opportunity Village, based in Clear
Lake, Iowa, has been accredited for a period of three years for its
primary services.The Village has received CARF accreditation since first seeking it in the early 1980s. This represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the Village's substantial conformance to the CARF standards. The Village put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit last fall that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.
CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body. Its mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services. Founded as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.
The surveyors who conducted the review cited many strengths demonstrated by the Village, including a strong family culture, exceptional tenure among staff, an extremely successful resale shop that serves the community, and a collaborative recycling business with city leadership.
The Village was cited for "exemplary conformance" to the standards in two areas: a healthy financial position and an optional spiritual health program.
Improvements were suggested in some areas, however the surveyors noted, "On balance, the strengths of Opportunity Village far surpass the recommendations noted in this report."
The following specific services are accredited.
Employment Services:
Organizational Employment Services
Organizational Employment Services
Community Employment Services - Job Development
Community Employment Services - Job Supports
Community Employment Services - Job-Site Training
Community Services:
Community Housing
Community Integration
Respite Services
Supported Living