Aldergrove Neighbourhood Services Society (ANSS) is Langley's newest addition to a choice group of non-profit agencies that have been awarded a three year accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Three assessors from CARF visited multiple locations and looked over eight service areas in December. The end result of their assessment was a glowing report that left the ANSS staff and management team feeling gratified with the work put into this enormous process.
CARF is an international non-profit accreditation body that has assessed 49,000 health and welfare projects in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia in order to establish best practices. It was founded in 1966, and established in Canada in 1969. CARF completes written reports on accredited agencies that cover the a service provider's strengths and areas for improvement. These reports are used by governments and private funders as an indication of excellence of service.
Among other things, the assessors judged the internal operations of ANSS, such as its administration, information technology and human resources, as well as its work in the Langley communities it serves. They also spoke to community partners, agency staff and program participants in the Langleys.
ANSS's report notes that "Funding and referral sources are extremely pleased with the organization, saying they feel like a team as they work together to provide the needed services. One referral source stated ANSS is 'an amazing organization.'"
Karen Custodio, the ANSS program manager responsible for agency accreditation, was overwhelmed with the positive feedback the agency received.
"Our agency received support from our community partners throughout this whole process. Our staff worked very hard in an environment that consisted of perpetual change. We appreciated the ideas and suggestions given to us by the CARF assessors. All in all, the experience was very positive and we look forward to continually improving services and business functioning of the agency."
This was the agency's first survey. The agency will be re-assessed in December of 2015.