Nexus Achieves National Re-Accreditation through Council on Accreditation

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Nexus, a national nonprofit 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA) for the sixth consecutive time. Nexus provides community-based mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment to children and families through its service locations in Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota.

Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency's performance. Accreditation lasts for four years; at the end of an organization's fourth year as an accredited body, it can undergo the process for re-accreditation. As part of the re-accreditation process, COA evaluated all aspects of Nexus' programs, services, management, and administration.

This process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization's administration, management and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.

To achieve COA accreditation, Nexus first provided written evidence of compliance with the COA standards. Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer peer reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interview with trustees, staff, and clients.

Based on their findings, COA's Accreditation Commission voted that Nexus had successfully met the criteria for accreditation.

An endorsement of COA and the value of its accreditation process is reflected in it being named by the U.S. State Department as the sole national independent accrediting body under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to accredit intercountry adoption service providers. In addition, COA is the only national accreditor designated by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop accreditation standards and processes for human service programs provided to military personnel and their families.

Founded in 1977, COA is an independent, not-for-profit accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations in the United States and Canada. Over 2,000 organizations ? voluntary, public, and proprietary; local and statewide; large and small ? have either successfully achieved COA accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. Presently, COA has a total of 47 service standards that are applicable to over 125 different types of programs. To learn more about COA, please visit http://www.COAnet.org.

Nexus and its affiliates (Minnesota: Gerard Academy, Kindred Family Focus, Mille Lacs Academy, Nexus Glen Lake; Illinois: Indian Oaks Academy, Onarga Academy; Maryland: Woodbourne Center; North Dakota and Idaho: PATH) provide emotional, behavioral, and mental health care to children and families needing a higher level of care. Woodbourne Center in Maryland is accredited by the Joint Commission. For more information, visit: http://www.nexus-yfs.org.

SOURCE NEXUS