Who it’s for:
Accreditation is best suited for nonprofits providing human services (see below) with annual revenues of $450,000 or more.
What it reviews:
- Administrative & Service Environment
- Client Rights
- Financial Management
- Governance
- Human Resources
- Performance & Quality Improvement
- Risk Prevention & Management
- Behaviour Support & Management
- Programme Administration
- Training & Supervision
- Programme & Service Specific Standards (e.g. mental health, residential, youth services)
Learn more about the certification, accreditation, and programme specific standards online.
The accreditation process is meant to be facilitative, collegial, client-centred and supportive of the unique cultural needs and goals of the organisation and the people it serves. The accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organisation’s administrative operations and service delivery against the standards of best practice. The review process includes a desk review of documentary evidence, interviews and on-site visits.
What Are Human Services
Human services encompasses a broad range of services designed to assist individuals, families, and communities in need. Human services are generally considered to be focused on serving vulnerable populations, which refers to groups of individuals who are at greater risk of experiencing poor physical, mental, social, or economic outcomes. These groups often face barriers to accessing services, protections, or opportunities, making them more susceptible to harm, exploitation, or neglect. These factors may include (but are not limited to):
- Age-related vulnerabilities (e.g., children, adolescents, the elderly)
- Economic disadvantage (e.g., low income, unemployment, poverty)
- Health conditions (e.g., chronic illness, mental health issues, disabilities)
- Social marginalization (e.g., due to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or language barriers)
- Situational or environmental challenges (e.g., homelessness, domestic violence, displacement, incarceration, or lack of education)
Note: You can opt for accreditation if you are under the $450,000 threshold. But you cannot opt for certification if you provide human services and are over the $450,000 threshold, with the exception of your first year entering the process where certification may be undertaken as a pathway to accreditation OR if an organisation’s programmes/services are being accredited by another entity better suited to their services. This is the integrity of the designation process.