Program Accreditation

Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA)

The Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) currently has 1,800 health services organizations participating in the accreditation program. The Council has recently prepared guidelines for accrediting substance abuse treatment programs. Accreditation is a two-part process, which includes a peer review and self-assessment that focuses on ways to continuously improve services.

The first part involves self-assessment: the organization seeking accreditation measures its own compliance against national standards. Key areas that are examined during the accreditation process include client/patient care and the delivery of service, information management practices, human resources development and management, the organization's governance, and the management of the environment.

During the second part (peer review), reviewers from outside the organization undertake the accreditation survey and use the same national standards to independently measure the organization through an on-site survey. This survey offers clients the opportunity to have their performance measured by external, objective reviewers. During the on-site visit, these reviewers, known as surveyors, meet with a broad spectrum of individuals from the organization's markets.

Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) Canada

CARF Canada is now incorporated in the country as one of the group of companies of CARF International. CARF was founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF Canada has offices in Edmonton and Ottawa to serve the more than 380 accredited organizations delivering a variety of specialized services including addictions treatment in the country. The mission of CARF is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through accreditation that centres on enhancing the lives of persons receiving services.

The CARF Canada standards focus on both the business practices that need to be in place to ensure organizational viability, and specific areas of programming. Examples of the latter include crisis intervention and stabilization, detoxification, employee assistance, drug court treatment, community housing and residential treatment.

The self-assessment and collaborative peer review, or survey process, help an organization focus on areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Following the survey, accredited organizations must submit a quality improvement plan, and on an annual basis, attest to the fact that they are still in conformance with the standards.

Conseil québécois d'agrément (CQA)

The Conseil québécois d'agrément (CQA) is a private, non-profit organization providing accreditation to organizations within the public health and social service sector in Québec.  CQA's objectives include supporting the continued improvement of the quality of service offered by these organizations, and publicly certifying that a set of quality requirements are being satisfied in accordance with the laws and regulations of the province of Québec.    

For more information: http://www.agrement-quebecois.ca/

Telephone: 514-499-6996

Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA)

The Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA) introduced an EAP accreditation program in July 1990. Full and provisional accreditation is available and is determined by compliance with standards as evaluated by site visitation from authorized peer reviewers. The accreditation process requires documentation and proof of practice in the following areas: Administration ~ Program Design and Implementation ~ Record Keeping ~ Confidentiality Procedures ~ Case Management ~ Staffing and Staff Development ~ Evaluation and Research.

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS, Québec)

The Québec government has established a voluntary standards and certification framework for private or community organizations that have been operating for at least two years to provide substance abuse treatment and lodging. The framework addresses standards that are necessary and sufficient for the physical, psychological and moral protection of the population using substance abuse treatment services. Recognized resources receive a certificate of conformity and are registered in the Ministère's list of certified Québec organizations.

For more information: http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/prob_sociaux/alcool_toxico.php

Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux

Direction de la jeunesse et de la toxicomanie

Telephone: 418-266-6830

In December 2002, the government of Québec passed new legislation amending the Act Respecting Health Services and Social Services, making it mandatory for every public institution to have the health and social services it provides accredited by a recognized accreditation body every three years. Institutions under this act recognized as providing health and social services include:

·          health and social services centres

·          hospital centres

·          child and youth protection centres

·          residential and long-term care centres

·          rehabilitation centres

The two bodies formally recognized to provide such accreditation are the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) and the Conseil québécois d'agrément (CQA).

For more information: http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/

Toll Free: 1-800-707-3380

Telephone: 418-266-8900