SIRS RECEIVES 3-YEAR CARF ACCREDITATION

October 2005 -- Southern Indiana Resource Solutions, Inc., (SIRS) has been awarded the 3-year accreditation by CARF.   CARF is a nonprofit organization that accredits human services providers throughout the United States, Canada, and Western Europe in the areas of rehabilitation, employment, aging, and family services.   What this means to a consumer of services is that CARF-accredited service providers meet the highest national and international standards for quality, such as employing qualified professional staff. The surveyors look not only at the agency’s personnel and records but take a great deal of effort and time in speaking to the consumers of services and their family members, asking for their input and expectations.   Agencies providing services to adults with disabilities are required by the state of Indiana to be CARF-accredited.   Although not required, SIRS Bright Beginnings Children’s Services has voluntarily applied for and received accreditation in the area of children’s services.    

SIRS Bright Beginnings received high praise throughout the accreditation process.   The following paragraph is taken from the CARF Survey Report given to SIRS management team and serves as an example of the comments included in the survey regarding SIRS’ services.   “The Bright Beginnings program, in coordination with other representatives, has helped families understand their child’s disability and has taught families how to implement therapeutic goal activities in their everyday routines.   Families report they would have been lost without the services and their children could not have developed to their potential had it not been for early childhood intervention.”   Knowing the families of the people served by SIRS have personally been affected and realize the benefits of the availability of high quality services is what drives SIRS forward with continuous improvement.  

According to SIRS’ CEO Kelly Mitchell, SIRS has been awarded the highest accreditation with the 3-year accreditation and also received two exemplary commendations.   Through the hard work of SIRS staff members and leadership, SIRS has continually been successful in earning the accreditation in both adult and children services since first applying in 1996. This accreditation is in effect until June of 2008.   The CARF survey report states that SIRS’ “demonstrates dedication to quality services and to continuous improvement.   The organization has a proven commitment to person-centered services throughout the organization.   Funding is in place to ensure that SIRS mission is carried out and to ensure continuous improvement.”

For more information on CARF accreditation, visit their website at www.carf.org.   For more information on the services provided by SIRS in your local community, or visit us online at www.sirs.org.   SIRS has been a provider of services for adults and children with disabilities since 1968.   Their vision is that “every person we serve will have the opportunity for community employment, recreation, and living.”