Originally Published March 23, 2023

Looking for FOCUS Accreditation Champions!

Christian Horizons has been accredited with FOCUS Accreditation, an agency that helps human service organizations to maintain and improve quality of their services, since 2010. This accreditation process includes period reports on Quality Improvement Plans, as well as full validation reviews that typically take place every 4 years.

Presently, Christian Horizons is planning to undergo its next full validation review in 2024. As such, we are starting to ramp up work to collectively prepare for this next accreditation review.

To help support this work, the Quality, Research and Practice Initiatives (QRPI) department is looking for people who are interested in participating in a new FOCUS Accreditation Champions team. This will be a team that will work together through 2023 and into 2024, to help prepare Christian Horizons, as well as our various teams and service locations, for our next validation.

Facilitated by the Manager of Quality Assurance, this Champions team will help prepare for accreditation by:

  • identifying recommendations for action from a review of current standards and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) commitments,
  • facilitate and track progress on actions identified,
  • and help plan the various steps of the accreditation process, including
    • collecting and sharing initial sample evidence,
    • developing and sharing resources and information to help people know more about FOCUS and accreditation,
    • and working with local leaders in rolling out accreditation preparation activities as we get closer to our 2024 accreditation.

We are currently looking for at least one member representing each of our districts, and at least one additional member representing our other shared services team within the Waterloo Office. While knowledge of FOCUS standards is not required, it would be helpful for Champion team members to have some experience with Christian Horizons and accreditation, and who have a passion for quality and improvement in thinking through policies, procedures, and practice (including the various tools, resources and documentation that we use).

If you have any questions, and/or are interested in taking part in this work, please (after discussing with your supervisor) express interest by emailing Justin Radstake, Manager of Quality Assurance at jradstake@christian-horizons.org by April 14th, 2023.