What is CARF

1
What is CARF?

• An internationally recognized mark of quality
  achievement
• A private, 501c-3 corporation established in 1966

2
Mission

• To promote the quality, value, and optimal
  outcomes of services through a consultative
  accreditation process that centers on enhancing
  the lives of the persons served.

3
CARF Today.

• Accredits roughly 30,000 service programs at over
  10,000 sites operated by 3,500 organizations in
  U.S., Canada, and Europe.
• Works closely with consumers, parents, families,
  advocacy groups, provider associations, and
  funding entities.
• Is accepted or required in over 40 states and
  provinces.

4
How Does It Happen?

• Provide external, impartial, peer observation of
  current service practice,
• A framework for quality improvement with a focus
  on individuals outcomes and satisfaction, and
• Information on which to base management decisions
  and direction for continuous quality improvement.

5
Who Gets Accredited?

• Some are one person businesses
• Some serve only one person
• Some provide services in a virtual environment
• Some are multi-state and multi-national

6
Expense of Accreditation

• Paid by organization surveyed
• Costs are based upon number of surveyors and
  length of survey ( surveyor days)
• 700 Survey Application Fee
• 1,200 per surveyor, per day

7
Creating the Measurement Tools

• Standards are field-based and defined by
• Persons receiving services
• Advocates
• Service providers
• Funders Government regulators

8
Accreditation Conditions

• Prior to survey
• Demonstrate six months of service delivery
• During the survey
• Provide access to records, staff, and persons
  served
• Following the survey
• Develop Quality Improvement Plan
• Annually
• Complete Annual Conformance to Quality Report

9
Key Focus Points

• Expectation that services are designed around
  the identified needs and desires of the persons
  served.
• Orientation toward outcomes and protection of
  safety and welfare of persons served.

10
Over-Riding Considerations

• How does your organization listen to, understand,
  and support the people it serves?
• What factors do you consider in a quality plan?
• What reasons are used in the design of the
  individualized planning process?

11
Examples of Quality

• Current methods, machinery, and materials used in
  business processes
• Variety of types of work relevant to the training
  needs of persons served is available

12
Sample Standards

• Information is used to
• Review the implementation of the mission and core
  values of the organization
• Improve the quality of programs/services
• Facilitate organizational decision making.

13
Sample Standardscont-d

• For business improvement, information is
• Collected
• Analyzed from the following
• Strategic planning information
• Financial information
• Accessibility plans
• Resource allocation
• Risk analysis
• Field trends, including research findings

14
Survey Outcomes..

• Three-Year Accreditation
• Substantial fulfillment of the standards
• One-Year Accreditation
• Organizational capability and commitment to
  correct deficiencies. On balance, services
  benefit those served and protect health, safety
  and welfare of persons served.
• Non-Accreditation
• Major deficiencies and serious questions about
  benefit to persons served.

15
Pros and Cons

• Pros
• Provides organized approach to quality
• Conducted by Peers
• Developed with field input
• Cons
• Focused primarily on rehabilitation services, not
  industry