Value of Contextual Accreditation

In our current outcomes-oriented environment, organizations are increasingly called upon to demonstrate the impact of their services.  Contextual Accreditation is designed to be a framework within which an organization can measure a variety of its achievements.

Improved Service Delivery

A 2003 US Congressional Report on Child Welfare singled out COA accreditation as a strategy that successfully addresses the problem of high turnover in public child welfare agencies.  Specifically, the study found that COA accreditation:

• Reduces caseloads, resulting in more attention and better care for clients.
• Increases emphasis on professional credentials, leading to more qualified staff.
• Reduces supervisor-to-staff ratios, allowing more supervision of frontline staff.

Improved Internal Processes and Procedures

A 2002 Aspen Institute study compared COA-accredited and non-accredited organizations and found that COA-accredited organizations:

• Used clearly defined criteria to evaluate personnel performance and ensure that employees have the skills and training they need to provide services. 
• Had ongoing procedures to identify problem areas and make necessary changes and improvements to the organization. 
• Had processes in place to plan for adverse situations and effectively manage risk.
  
  

Improved Employee Morale

Because COA accreditation involves all of an organization's stakeholders - employees, board members, clients and - most especially - line staff, each becomes invested in the process and each plays a role in transforming the organizational culture.

Recognition from Governments, Foundations and Grant Makers

The value and credibility of COA accreditation are formally recognized in over one hundred distinct instances in forty-four different states, the District of Columbia, as well as British Columbia, Canada.  Additionally, the U.S. Department of State has designated COA as the sole national independent accreditor for organizations providing intercountry adoption services in the United States that work with sending countries that have ratified the Hague Treaty. 

COA-accredited agencies benefit in several different ways from such inclusion:

• Agencies may receive monetary incentives, which can help pay for accreditation/reaccreditation and can provide increased reimbursement amounts for services.
• An accredited organization may be deemed in compliance with state/county requirements, which may include licensing or certification requirements.
• Agencies may fulfill a state mandate, which requires service providers to become accredited.
• An accredited organization may receive some regulatory relief.

Reduced Hidden Costs

Contextual Accreditation can help you be more cost-effective by reducing employee turnover, creating more efficient processes and strengthening your organization's capacity.

The COA Community/Network

COA has the sponsorship and support of over 24 national and international organizations and is developing a leadership role in the global community through its collaboration with other countries. As a result, our accredited organizations have access to invaluable resources.