Latham celebrates national accreditation

Latham Centers is thrilled to announce that we have achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA)! Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA evaluated all aspects of Latham Centers’ programs, services, management, and administration in a rigorous accreditation review process.

COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that the services are well coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.

To achieve COA accreditation, Latham Centers first provided written evidence of compliance with the COA standards. Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with Board of Directors, management, staff, and program participants. Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted that Latham Centers had successfully met the criteria for accreditation. In fact, Latham Centers was expedited through the Pre-Commission Review Report (PCR) process as a result of not receiving any out of compliance ratings in any of the fundamental practice standards — an amazing achievement!

Anne McManus, our President and CEO, said she is privileged to work with such a dedicated, talented staff whom she credits with the agency’s successful reaccreditation by COA. Anne noted, “I would like to thank everyone on staff who participated in our recent reaccreditation review by the Council on Accreditation… There were numerous comments from a variety of sources (stakeholders, funders, other agencies, individuals, students, and parents) about the dedication and commitment of staff in their interactions with students, individuals, and families. Thank you for all you do to make Latham a special place for the children and adults who call Latham home.”

Pictured above: Staff, Board members, and family members gather around Latham President and CEO Anne McManus at Friday’s End of Year Celebration (holding the COA Accreditation plaque) to share a moment of congratulations for Latham’s COA Accreditation achievement; and members of Latham’s Training Department and Adult Services Program take a moment during a training session last week to celebrate our Accreditation.