About COA
Mission
The Council on Accreditation (COA) partners with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards.
Vision
COA envisions excellence in the delivery of human services globally, resulting in the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
History and Activities
COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioral healthcare accrediting organization. It was founded in 1977 by the Child Welfare League of America and Family Service America (now the Alliance for Children and Families). Originally known as an accrediting body for family and children's agencies, COA currently accredits 38 different service areasand over 60 types of programs. Among the service areas are substance abuse treatment, adult day care, services for the homeless, foster care, and intercountry adoption
In addition to standards for private social service and behavioral health care organizations, COA has developed separate business lines for public agencies, networks and lead management entities, opioid treatment programs, employee assistance programs, and financial management/debt counseling services.
COA views accreditation as a catalyst for change that builds on an organization's strengths and helps it achieve better results in all areas. The accreditation process is designed to meet the needs of diverse organizations. An organization is evaluated against best-practice standards, which are developed using a consensus model with input from a wide range of service providers, funders, experts, policymakers and consumers.
In 2007, COA accredited or was in the process of accrediting more than 1,800 private and public organizations that serve more that 7 million individuals and families in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, England and the Philippines. The accreditation process is designed to meet the needs of diverse organizations--voluntary, public and proprietary, local and statewide, large and small. Currently, 34% of COA-accredited agencies have a budget of less than $2 million; the budget of another 44% is between $2 and $10 million.
Values
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We believe in the inherent dignity, value, and uniqueness of all people, and that organizations are strengthened by a diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and viewpoints.
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We believe that all persons, families, and communities should receive human services that produce positive outcomes.
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We believe that persons, families, and communities have a right and a responsibility to participate in all levels of decision-making that affect them.
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We believe that accreditation standards should be culturally responsive, evidence-based, innovative, realistic, and conform to best practice principles.
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We believe that all our stakeholders should receive friendly, courteous, prompt, and knowledgeable service.
The COA community is deeply committed to promoting standards, championing quality and advocating for accreditation - our vulnerable children, individuals, seniors, and families deserve nothing less. With the support of 14 Sponsoring Organizations, 12 Supporting Organizations, a highly skilled and dedicated board of trustees and staff, and an invaluable group of volunteers, COA pursues its mission with vigor.
If you would like to obtain a copy of COA's governing documents, conflict of interest policy and most recent financial statement, please contact Joseph Seoane, Director of Client Relations, by email at jseoane@coanet.org. Copies of the documents are also available for review at COA's main office located at 120 Wall Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY. If you would like to review the documents at our office, please contact Joseph to schedule an appointment.
Meet our President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Klarberg
