AHRC Nassau and Citizens Options Unlimited, Inc. (Citizens) are honored to announce that both organizations have maintained the four-year Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership.
AHRC Nassau and Citizens offer a lifetime of supports to men and women across Long Island. Both organizations share a powerful vision—a world where people of all abilities are valued. This prestigious accomplishment demonstrates that AHRC Nassau and Citizens Options Unlimited, Inc. are meeting the most stringent standards established in the human services field.
Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction includes strict eligibility criteria, rigorous expectations involving the impact of supports on outcomes, the application of CQL Certification in the Personal Outcome Measures®, and robust data collection and analysis requirements.
“This accreditation places AHRC Nassau and Citizens among an elite group of organizations that exemplify the very best in human services,” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and CEO of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. “Only a small number of agencies have been able to attain the ‘With Distinction’ designation, so this is an extremely significant accomplishment.”
For AHRC Nassau and Citizens, the process of maintaining this accreditation has coincided with the strategic focus on ensuring self-directed outcomes and lived experiences are centered throughout all services and supports.
“Putting the person first is AHRC and Citizens’ first call to action. This accreditation is an honor reflecting the strategic vision of our boards of directors, excellence of staff, and shared values of families and partners,” said Stanfort J. Perry, CEO of AHRC Nassau and Citizens. “When purpose and passion come together in a community, you see programs come to life and new possibilities emerge.”
Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction is a four-year accreditation term for human service organizations with deeply embedded person-centered practices using CQL’s internationally recognized tools. It includes the standards in CQL’s other accreditation options, such as the validation of a Basic Assurances® Self-Assessment, implementation of the Personal Outcome Measures®, alignment with Shared Values, along with various planning meetings, review visits, focus groups, and consultation with CQL staff members.
The “With Distinction” accreditation then goes beyond these standards, involving various eligibility conditions, evidence of the organization’s positive community impact, requirements involving CQL Certification in the Personal Outcome Measures®, utilization of an integrated quality management system, and more. The designation of “With Distinction” is also not determined during the initial review, but instead decided by a CQL committee of diverse experts in human services.
“We commend our partners from AHRC Nassau and Citizens for achieving Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction,” adds Katherine Dunbar, Vice President of Accreditation of CQL |
The Council on Quality and Leadership. “They’re providing exceptional supports and services that are making an impact on people’s lives, and this accreditation truly sets them apart from other organizations.”
Tune in to AHRC Nassau on YouTube for first-hand accounts from self-advocates on how person-centered supports have assisted them in achieving their personal goals.