COA - Council On Accreditation

	Immigrant and Refugee Resettlement: Resettlement Practice with Separated and Unaccompanied Children; Transition Services; Immigration, Citizenship and Naturalization Legal Assistance Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

Service Narrative (PA-IRR):

Part 1: Program Information

Agencies may complete one template for all programs, or a separate template that addresses each program being reviewed under this section. Provide responses in the boxes located in the Service Narrative template.

Agencies being accredited for the first time: Please provide information for the last year.

Agencies being reaccredited: Please provide information for the period since the last accreditation review.

1. Describe any significant changes, challenges, awards received, changes in funding, or obstacles faced by the agency.

2. Provide an overview of the different program(s) being accredited under this section. The overview should describe:

the programs' service philosophy and approach to delivering services;
eligibility criteria;
any unique programs or special services provided to specific populations;
major funding streams; and
any additional information referenced in the Table of Evidence.

3. If service components are provided to persons and families through contract in cooperation with other agencies or through a formal, coordinated service delivery system provide a list that identifies the providers and the services for which they are responsible. Do not include services provided by referral.

4. Provide any other information your agency would like the peer review team to know about these programs.

Attachments

A list of all program sites, including the following information for each program site: a) name of program/site director; b) address; c) phone number; d) hours of operation; e) number of FTEs; f) average monthly number of clients served; and g) directions or a map to each program site from the main agency office
A demographic profile of persons and families served by the program(s) being reviewed under this service section with percentages representing the following: a) racial and ethnic characteristics; b) gender; c) age; d) major religious groups; and e) major language groups. Include an explanation of how the program ensures that it is providing culturally competent services
As applicable, a list of groups or classes including, for each group or class: a) the type of activity/group; b) whether the activity/group is short-term or ongoing; c) how often the activity/group is offered; d) the average number of participants per session of the activity/group, in the last month; and e) the total number of participants in the activity/group, in the last month
A list of any programs that were opened, merged with other programs or services, or closed
Two quarterly reports from the case record review process conducted for this service, with any related corrective action plans (See PQI 4.02/4.03)
Two quarterly reports of accidents, incidents, and grievances related to this service (See RPM 2.02)
All COA-approved NA Requests
A list of all NAs applicable to your agency provided within the standards

Part 2: Program Outputs and Outcomes

Provide a response in each box describing how the program is making progress toward achieving its aims, and achieving better results for participants.

1. A summary of where the agency is in the development of its program for measuring program quality and outcomes, specific to the service.

2. A list or description of program outputs and desired outcomes and any outputs and outcomes being measured including measurement tools used. Note: Program outputs may include consumer satisfaction, number of clients served, number of visits, timeliness of assessments, etc.

3. An overview of the agency's process for analyzing data.

4. Examples of program improvements made based on the outcomes data.

Attachments

Outcomes measurement/data collection procedures
Outcomes results reported for the previous two quarters


	Self-Study Documents	On-Site Documents	On-Site Activities
PA-IRR 1 Collaborative, Culturally,Competent Outreach	Outreach strategy and activities summary Description of approach for remaining knowledgeable about service eligibility and availability	Outreach materials	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel
PA-IRR 2 Screening and Intake	Screening and intake procedures Issue identification tools and/or tickler system		Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 3 Assessment	Assessment procedures Assessment tool and/or criteria including child and youth trauma		Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 4 Service Planning, Coordination and Monitoring	Service planning and monitoring procedures	Documentation of case review	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 5 Service Philosophy	Include Service Philosophy in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information		Interview: Program director Personnel
PA-IRR 6 Transition Assistance	Include description of services in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information		Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 7 Sponsoring Families, Groups, and Communities	Include description of services in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information	Written, signed agency-sponsor agreements	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 8 Resettlement Practice	Include description of services in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information	Written service agreements	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 9 Resettlement Practice with Separated and Unaccompanied Children	Include description of services in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information	Program census including IRR history, services provided, and disposition, with any trafficked children and youth seeking asylum noted	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 10 Immigration, Citizenship, and Naturalization Legal Assistance	Include description of services in Service Narrative Part 1: Program Information	Evidence of accreditation by Board of Immigration Appeals, U.S. Dept of Justice Materials/information service recipients receive describing time, costs, procedures, risks	Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records for complete copy of any application and correspondence with government
PA-IRR 11 Case Closing	Case closing procedures		Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records
PA-IRR 12 Aftercare and Follow-Up	Aftercare and follow-up procedures		Interview: Program director Relevant personnel Persons served Review case records for after care plans
PA-IRR 13 Personnel	Program staffing chart that includes lines of supervision List of program personnel that includes: name title degree held and/or other credentials FTE or volunteer length of service at the agency time in current position Table of contents of training curricula Procedures and criteria used for assigning and evaluating workloads	Job descriptions including volunteer para-professionals, as applicable Documentation of training Training curricula Verify employment or contract of legal and social work professionals	Interview: Supervisors Personnel Review personnel files

Fundamental Practice Standards:


Essential Life and Safety	Health and Welfare	Client Rights
	PA-IRR 2.02, PA-IRR 4.05, PA-IRR 6.05, PA-IRR 6.06, PA-IRR 9.01, PA-IRR 9.02, PA-IRR 9.03, PA-IRR 10.01, PA-IRR 10.02, PA-IRR 13.02, PA-IRR 13.09	PA-IRR 1.03, PA-IRR 4.02, PA-IRR 4.03

RELATED FILES


	IMMIGRANT An individual not born in the United States, Puerto Rico, or an outlying US territory, who migrates from his/her country of nationality or any country in which they last habitually resided and chooses to seek a better economic, social or religious life abroad. Immigrants, and children of immigrants, can be citizens, Legal Permanent Residents "a step toward naturalization as a US citizen" or non-citizens, either legal or undocumented without legal status.


	REFUGEE Those who flee their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion and are unable or unwilling to return to, or avail themselves of, their home country.


	FAMILY Two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. Child care and child socialization, income support, long-term care, and other caregiving are among the functions of family life. The definition of "family" will rest with an individual's indication of who plays a family member role, including current or former foster family, adoptive family, extended family members, fictive kin, or significant others. Organizations that believe family is the central constellation in a child's life, and that family attachments are of primary importance for human development, will strive to work with professional staff to develop a common understanding of "family."


	OUTREACH Contact initiated by a provider to identify persons in need of services, to provide information to them about services and benefits, and to encourage the use of appropriate services.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	ELIGIBILITY The degree to which an individual, family, group, or community meets the specific criteria and qualifications required to receive goods, benefits, or services.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	PERSONNEL The body of employees and/or volunteers that carries out the organization's tasks under the organization's administration and/or supervision. This definition does not include foster parents who are specifically referenced in relevant standards


	INTAKE The client's entry point for services at which eligibility is assessed against established criteria and a preliminary evaluation of the presenting problem occurs.


	CASE RECORD A written compilation that describes the client and the services delivered. Records can be in hard copy and/or electronic format. The case record can be used as a source of information for quality improvement or other evaluation activities, for research purposes, or to demonstrate accountability to funding bodies.


	ASSESSMENT An evaluation, which utilizes professional expertise and skills in the collection and analysis of data to understand and describe the nature of service needs of an individual, family, or group. Assessment, as in needs assessment, is also used to determine priorities of program planning and service development for the organization as a whole. See also DIAGNOSIS.


	CRITERIA Systematically developed, objective, and quantifiable statements used to assess the appropriateness of specific decisions, services, and outcomes.


	PLANNING The process of specifying objectives, evaluating the means for their achievement, and exercising deliberate decision making about appropriate courses of action.


	MONITORING An evaluation involving a periodic review of consumer services, organizational activities, or conduct. Specifically, monitoring is an activity of case coordination, whereas more broadly, monitoring is an evaluation technique used in overall quality assurance.


	CASE REVIEW A regular and periodic examination of a consumer's service needs, service delivery goals and objectives, intervention plans, prognoses, and the timelines required to achieve them. The direct service provider and supervisor frequently conduct the case review, but it may also involve others, as in an interdisciplinary or inter-organizational case conference. The client, or the parent or legal guardian in the case of a minor, are included in his/her periodic case review by the team.


	SERVICE PHILOSOPHY The theoretical framework that describes and explains an organization's approach to service.


	ACCREDITATION The formal evaluation of an organization against accepted criteria or standards. A professional society, non-governmental organization, or a governmental agency may conduct accreditation activities. A COA-accredited organization has undergone a period of rigorous self-study and is capable of providing programs and services that meet or exceed COA standards.


	SERVICE RECIPIENT The individuals, groups, organizations, or communities that use, receive, or benefit from programs and services. Service recipients can include consumers, patients, family members, legal guardians, advocates, public/private organizations, employers, and purchasers. All are regarded as significant stakeholders served in a variety of agencies and practice settings.


	CASE CLOSING A voluntary or involuntary process which occurs when an organization no longer assumes responsibility for providing services to a particular individual, group, or family. Also known as "termination" or "discharge."


	AFTERCARE Additional services provided beyond the period of primary care that offer continuity and supportive follow-up.


	SUPERVISION Assumption of responsibility for directly overseeing and evaluating the work or work products of personnel within an organization. Also includes inspecting the act or process of accomplishing a function or activity.


	PROGRAM PERSONNEL All direct service and administrators or supervisors of direct services that are involved in the operation of the organization's social service programs. "Program personnel" does not include MIS, accounting, facilities, clerical, or other staff that are not involved in the provision or oversight of direct services.


	VOLUNTEER An individual who performs services for an organization for civic, charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. Such service must be offered freely and without pressure or coercion, direct or implied, from an employer. If the individual is otherwise employed by the same employer for which s/he volunteers, the individual cannot volunteer to perform the same type of services that s/he is paid to perform as an employee.


	TRAINING Instruction so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient in a skill or body of knowledge.


	WORKLOAD The amount of work assigned to or expected from a person within a specified period of time. See also CASELOAD.


	JOB DESCRIPTION Explicit obligations and specific tasks required of personnel as a condition of employment. Such descriptions are in writing and may include educational, experiential, and skill requirements associated with the job.


	CONTRACT A formal written agreement between two or more parties that specifies the services, space, or products to be provided in exchange for some form of compensation. Also known as "purchase of service arrangement."


	SOCIAL WORK Professionally responsible interventions carried out by persons with formal, professional education at the BSW or MSW level from an accredited school of social work and appropriate licensing, certification, and registration credentials. Interventions are directed toward improving the transactions between people and environments to enhance the adaptive capacities of the participants and improve environments for all that function within them. Social work is a professional practice with a consumer group consisting of individuals, families, small groups, organizations, neighborhoods, and communities and involving the disciplined application of knowledge and skill.