Newtown Youth and Family Services Earns National Accreditation

Press release:

Newtown, CT: Newtown Youth and Family Services has achieved national re-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 Newtown Youth and Family Services’ programs, services, management, and administration. “COA congratulates Newtown Youth and Family Services Inc. for their hard work and wonderful achievement and is proud to have it as part of COA’s Community of excellence.”

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 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. Thereafter, a group of specially trained evaluators and Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with board members, staff and service recipients.

Based on their findings, COA’s Accreditation Commission voted that Newtown Youth and Family Services had successfully met the criteria for accreditation. Executive Director Candice Bohr says, “We are very pleased to be reaccredited by the Council of Accreditation. There are roughly 2,500 human service organizations world wide that share in this recognition. I would like to thank our hardworking staff and dedicated Board of Directors for supporting our mission and passion for excellence!”

Founded in 1977, COA is an independent, not-for-profit accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations in the United States and Canada. Over 2,000 organizations — voluntary, public, and proprietary; local and statewide; large and small — have either successfully achieved COA accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. Presently, COA has a total of 47 service standards that are applicable to over 125 different types of programs. To learn more about COA, please visit www.COAnet.org.

Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area. For more information visit www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.