COA Accreditation

2024 COA Accreditation Standards Updates

Social Current

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

The Adult Protective Services standards have been revised to better address current literature on screening, investigation, service delivery, and collaboration with community partners. These revisions aim to mitigate or eliminate the risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation for vulnerable adults, emphasizing safety, independence, and overall well-being. The 2024 updates to APS include new or revised content on:

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

The Crisis Response and Information Services (CRI) standards have been expanded to better reflect the full spectrum of crisis services. The 2024 updates to CRI include:

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

We have revised our standards for Domestic Violence Services (DV) to better address important topics in the field and encourage practices that promote survivors’ well-being. The 2024 updates to DV include:

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

We have revised our standards for Integrated Care; Health Homes (ICHH) to better address important topics in the field, including shared decision making and the social factors that can impact health outcomes. The 2024 updates to ICHH include:

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

The standards for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services (IDDS) have been revised to better address key topics in the field including personnel competencies, the inclusion of workers with lived experience, caregiver/family education and support, and the delivery of individualized therapeutic interventions to address symptoms that inhibit positive functioning and quality of life. The 2024 updates to IDDS include:

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

We have revised our standards for Mental Health and/or Substance Use Services in response to SAMHSA releasing its updated criteria for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in March 2023. As more states require independent accreditation for CCBHCs in their state certification processes, Social Current is committed to meeting the needs of these clinics nationwide. These CCBHC updates apply only to private and public entities operating in the United States. We have also updated the MHSU standards to reflect current literature and practice in behavioral health including new or revised content related to key topics in the field such as rehabilitation and recovery, care coordination, shared decision making, and the social factors that can impact health outcomes. These updates apply to private and public entities operating in the United States or Canada. The 2024 updates to MHSU include:

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

We have revised our standards for Pregnancy Support Services (PS) to better address important topics in the field and support the health and well-being of pregnant individuals. The 2024 updates to PS include new and revised content addressing:

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

The Respite Care (RC) standards have been updated to reflect current literature and practice including effective, person-centered respite care. The 2024 updates to RC include:

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

We have revised our standards for Wilderness and Adventure-Based Therapeutic Outdoor Services (WT) and the Experiential Education Supplement (EES) to better capture the intent and functionality of these programs. The 2024 updates to WT and EES include:

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.

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.