COA Accreditation

2024 COA Accreditation Standards Updates

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May 1, 2024

The 2024 edition of updates to the standards for COA Accreditation are now available. These targeted enhancements to the standards are the result of our annual update process and include changes based on ongoing collection and analysis of feedback received from our network, collaboration with diverse groups of subject matter experts, and a review of research and professional literature on identified trends and evolving practices.

Our collaborative update process is designed to ensure the standards remain up-to-date, research-based, and field-informed, promoting improved outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Who’s Affected

These changes impact private, public, and Canadian organizations seeking COA accreditation or reaccreditation. The 2024 edition of updates will not impact organizations that are currently pursuing accreditation or re-accreditation and have already been assigned standards in the MyCOA portal.

When It Is Happening

Standards assignments for COA Accreditation using the new standards began April 19, 2024.

What’s Changing In Our Standards

  • Staff qualifications
  • Workload and work-related stressors
  • Properly identifying and routing cases for the most positive outcomes
  • Investigation protocols
  • Case monitoring
  • Procedures for case closures  
  • Greater emphasis throughout on creating collaborative crisis response systems and community partnerships
  • Greater emphasis throughout on trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and person-centered care
  • New content on staff with lived experience
  • New content related to the use of telehealth in crisis care
  • New content on crisis services provided in group settings
  • New content on rape crisis and victim services
  • New content for mobile crisis response services including a new Core Concept, CRI 6: Mobile Crisis Response Services
  • New content for short-term crisis receiving and stabilization units that were all previously accredited under Residential Treatment Services (RTX) including two new Core Concepts, CRI 7: Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Services and CRI 8: Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Facilities
  • New and revised content on law enforcement involvement
  • New and revised content on the range of supportive services that can enable survivors to heal, access resources, develop connections, and build skills
  • New and revised content focused on improving the well-being of survivors’ children
  • Revised content addressing processes for intake and assessment
  • New and revised content on telephonic crisis intervention services
  • New content on support for personnel
  • Updated expectations regarding evidence of standard implementation that reflect best practices for record keeping when working with survivors
  • An overall shift towards person-centered language and away from terms like “client,” “patient,” or “service recipient” 
  • Greater emphasis throughout on putting the individual or family at the center of all service delivery decisions 
  • New and revised content on identifying and addressing the social determinants of health to promote whole-person care and equitable health outcomes
  • New content on staff with lived experience 
  • New and revised content on health information technologies
  • New and revised content on crisis and/or safety planning
  • Updates to ICHH 4: Intake and Assessment
  • A revised Purpose Standard and Definition
  • New and revised content related to staff qualifications
  • New and revised content related to peer support in IDDS services, including new content on staff with lived experience
  • New content on therapeutic services for individuals with IDD including a new Core Concept, IDDS 5: Therapeutic Services
  • New and revised content on procedures for transitioning individuals to another level of care
  • A revised Purpose Standard and Definition
  • New and revised content related to staff qualifications
  • New and revised content related to peer support in IDDS services, including new content on staff with lived experience
  • New content on therapeutic services for individuals with IDD including a new Core Concept, IDDS 5: Therapeutic Services
  • New and revised content on procedures for transitioning individuals to another level of care
  • Counseling and support that can help individuals make decisions about their pregnancies
  • Education and support services that promote positive functioning and help individuals attain goals
  • Education and support services that encourage healthy births and promote preparation for parenthood
  • New content centering caregiver involvement in provider training and service delivery
  • Improved clarity on service environment practices and procedures
  • Greater emphasis throughout on caregiver and care recipient voice and choice
  • New content related to care recipient safety and well-being
  • New content on respecting Indigenous land and cultural traditions
  • The inclusion of adventure-based services for adult populations
  • New and revised content related to the health and safety of personnel and persons served
  • New and revised content on providing person-centered, trauma-informed care
  • Clarity on the definition and intent of WT programs to offer clinical services in a natural environment

In response to feedback from our network, we are also releasing a collection of revisions throughout the COA Accreditation standards to provide clarity and/or remain current with trends in the field. Highlights include:

  • Updates to the Person-Centered Logic model standards, evidence, and rating indicators where applicable
  • Adjusting CPR training requirements for Canadian organizations from a two-year to three-year cycle to align with prevailing industry standards in Canada
  • A new standard in ASE 2 on prohibited practices
  • A new standard in GOV 3 on providing meaningful opportunities for individuals and families to influence the design, delivery, and evaluation of an organization’s programs and services

Download a full list of standards impacted by the 2024 updates.

Our Standards Update Process

The 2024 COA Accreditation standards updates reflect changes made based on evolving practices, ongoing review of relevant literature, and the continuous feedback we receive from our network, including volunteer reviewers and accredited organizations. More specifically, updating the 2024 Standards involved:

  • Collection, in-depth review, and synthesis of prominent published research and professional literature in targeted areas
  • Review of standards drafts and discussion of trends in the field with Standards Advisory Panels comprised of subject matter experts, agency leaders, and service providers
  • Collection and review of feedback solicited from Social Current’s network, including through the “Provide Feedback” button found in the MyCOA and VIP portals
  • Sharing drafts online for a period of field comment to solicit feedback from Social Current’s network and the broader social service sector

Questions?

If you are currently pursuing accreditation or re-accreditation, reach out to your accreditation coordinator.

If you are seeking accreditation for the first time, please contact Joe Perrow.

For additional information about COA Accreditation standards, please contact Melissa Dury.

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About Social Current

Social Current is the premier partner and solutions provider to a diverse network of more than 1,800 human and social service organizations. Together with our network, we are activating the power of the social sector to effect broader systemic change that is needed to achieve our vision of an equitable society where all people can thrive. We support, strengthen, and amplify the work of the social sector in six core integrated areas including brain science and trauma-informed approaches; COA Accreditation; child, family, and community well-being; equity, diversity, and inclusion; government affairs and advocacy; and leadership and organizational development.