Accreditation

In February 2009 North Shore ConneXions Society received a 3-year accreditation from CARF Canada. This is CARF's highest award. It means that we satisfy each of the CARF Accreditation Conditions, demonstrate substantial conformance to the standards, and use continuous quality improvement practices.
2009 CARF Survey Report

The following programs are accredited:

• community housing
• community integration
• day programs
• respite services
• home sharing
• family services
• community employment (job development, job supports, and job-site training).

CARF highlights many of our strengths in their summary report. Here are a few:

• The management team is composed of professional, long-term employees who are dedicated to
  the organization’s mission.
• The organization promotes self-advocacy efforts and includes self-advocates in all levels of the
  program.
• The organization's continuous quality improvement committee is well organized methodically works to
  ensure that plans and outcomes are on target to accomplish goals.
• The outreach and community education program (ECA) is an excellent initiative to educate the public
  and remove attitudinal barriers persons served may face in the community.
• All levels of the organization are strong advocates for individual and families and promote independence for
  persons served.
• North Shore ConneXions Society has made a commitment to listening and respecting persons served
  as evidenced by our name change from North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped.
• Through information gathering and research of area offerings, our Society community integration
  programs offer an extraordinary variety of community experiences for the person served, from spa
  days to pub nights.
• Employment services are well connected to the area employers and have committed staff members who
  provide excellent services around the needs of the persons served.
• Especially notable is the array of free services provided to families, some of whom are on a wait
  list for services to commence, while others are family members who have been served by our
  Society for many years.

We have also received exemplary conformance to the standards as follows:

• North Shore ConneXions Society is commended for its self-advocacy, including the plain language
  document initiative and its overall promotion of self-advocacy, including the testimonial DVD to
  change the organization's name. The use of the self-advocacy committee along with other initiatives
  to engage persons served in finding their voice is excellent. The self-advocates themselves are also
  congratulated for their efforts and successes in assisting North Shore ConneXions Society and all of
  its members