LifeBridge Community Services Earns Prestigious CARF Accreditation

LifeBridge Community Services, Inc. has earned a coveted Three-Year Accreditation from CARF International for its Outpatient Mental Health Treatment for adults, adolescents, and children, recognizing the agency’s deep commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centered behavioral health services that strengthen the Greater Bridgeport community.

CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) awards this distinction only to organizations that meet the most rigorous benchmarks of quality and accountability. LifeBridge was evaluated against nearly 1,500 standards covering clinical care, governance, risk management, and client outcomes. After an intensive, multi-day survey, CARF commended the agency’s leadership, mission-driven programs, and its trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to care. By pursuing and achieving accreditation, LifeBridge has demonstrated that it meets international standards of quality and is committed to continual excellence.

“This CARF accreditation is a reflection of the care, compassion, and commitment our team brings to our community every day,” said Edith Boyle, President & CEO of LifeBridge Community Services. “At LifeBridge, it’s not enough to provide services – we are committed to delivering care that produces noticeable, measurable, results. This milestone demonstrates to clients, partners, funders, and staff alike that the status quo is not acceptable. We are building an organization worthy of investment, a workplace where staff are proud to serve, and a trusted place for the community to seek help. I am especially grateful to Cary Ostrow, our Senior Director of Quality and Compliance, whose leadership was instrumental in achieving this milestone.”

CARF surveyors praised LifeBridge’s trauma-informed, culturally responsive care, strong staff engagement, and client-first approach. Achieving CARF accreditation places LifeBridge among a select group of organizations nationwide recognized for meeting the highest international benchmarks of excellence. This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be given to an organization. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has gone through a rigorous peer-review process and has demonstrated its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and the highest quality.

For over 175 years, LifeBridge has been a trusted community partner, empowering individuals and families to heal, grow, and thrive. This accreditation not only affirms its legacy but also strengthens the foundation for expanding innovative, trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services in the years ahead.

About LifeBridge Community Services

LifeBridge Community Services is a nonprofit based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, dedicated to improving well-being, strengthening resilience, and creating brighter futures for individuals, youth, and families. Serving more than 2,500 people annually, LifeBridge provides outpatient mental health counseling and substance use treatment, clinical art therapy, and school-based supports. Beyond direct care, LifeBridge equips professionals and community members with the skills to build individual and community resilience and convenes a statewide Trauma-Informed Community of Practice. With deep local roots and a forward-looking strategy, LifeBridge combines a 175-year legacy with an innovation-driven approach to community health. Visit lifebridgect.org for more information.

About CARF International

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.