Melody Crossway, Director of Mission Services, recently obtained the title of CARF Surveyor General. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an independent, non-profit organization focused on advancing the quality of services of health and human service providers. Globally recognized, CARF is the main accrediting body for the human services industry and having this accreditation ensures that the organization utilizes best practices with a strong commitment to quality. This prestigious denotation gives Melody the authority to evaluate the quality of care at many organizations in the United States. CARF surveyors apply a consultative, rather than inspective, approach. They bring with them not only their own wisdom, but also the experience of similar organizations to promote quality within the industry.
Melody applied to be a CARF surveyor in May of 2018. The application process takes 2-4 months and requires interviews, professional referrals, and continuous online and onsite training hours. Melody was invited to participate in a 3 day virtual onsite survey in Tucson, Arizona in October. After successful completion of her survey, she was issued her certification and will finish several internships to round out her title. Melody expressed feelings of pride and accomplishment after completing the long certification process.
CARF accreditation signals a service provider’s commitment to continually improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. A service or program that is CARF accredited has passed an in-depth on-site review and has demonstrated substantial conformance to internationally recognized standards for quality. NW Works is proud to be CARF certified for over 20 years.