Illinois DCFS Achieves High Marks from Renown Council on Accreditation

Author: 
Veronica Resa of Illinois DCFS
Locality: 
Summary: 
Illinois DCFS Achieves High Marks from Renown Council on Accreditation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services announced today that it has been reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), becoming one of only four state child welfare systems in the country to meet the council’s stringent performance standards.

DCFS was one of the first state child welfare systems to be accredited by COA in 2000 and remains the largest. The department was successfully reaccredited in 2004, 2009 and again this year. Only Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana are also currently accredited.

“Illinois DCFS has the longest record of COA accreditation of any state system, and it speaks to the high performance standards we’ve established and continue to maintain,” said DCFS Acting Director Bobbie Gregg. “DCFS is proud of its history of COA accreditation, and I’m thrilled to acknowledge this recognition on behalf of the department and our staff who work every day to protect children and support families.”

DCFS is accredited under COA’s Public Agency Standards in Child Protection Services, Foster and Kinship Care Services, and Adoption Services. DCFS was reviewed and found to be in compliance with approximately 500 COA standards.

The accreditation process includes the submission of an agency self study to demonstrate that DCFS policies are in compliance with COA’s standards, followed by a rigorous on-site review by COA peer reviewers. Reviewers examined documentation and case files and conducted interviews with agency staff, clients and community stakeholders.

Benefits of accreditation include increased client participation, improved internal operations, a greater accountability to DCFS clients, statewide uniformity in case files and improved case management and documentation.

COA is an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization founded in 1977 by the Child Welfare League of America and Family Service America (now the Alliance for Children and Families).
Media Contacts:
Karen Hawkins, deputy of Communications
Veronica Resa, associate deputy of Communications
312-814-6847

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