About the CARF Accreditation to Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont

In a letter from CARF-

“It is my pleasure to inform you that Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont has been issued CARF accreditation based on its recent survey. The Three-Year Accreditation applies to the following program(s)/service(s): Organizational Employment Services"

This accreditation will extend through June 30, 2024. This achievement is an indication of your organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served. Services, personnel, and documentation clearly indicate an established pattern of conformance to standards.

Your organization should take pride in achieving this high level of accreditation. CARF will recognize this accomplishment in its listing of organizations with accreditation and encourages your organization to make its accreditation known throughout the community. Communication of the accreditation to your referral and funding sources, the media, and local and federal government officials can promote and distinguish your organization.

About CARF

• CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services, enhancing the lives of persons served worldwide.
• The accreditation process applies CARF’s internationally recognized standards during a site survey conducted by peer surveyors. 
• Accreditation is an ongoing process that distinguishes a provider’s service delivery and signals to the public that the provider is committed to continuous performance improvement, responsive to feedback, and accountable to the community and its other stakeholders.
• CARF accreditation promotes providers’ demonstration of value and Quality Across the Lifespan® of millions of persons served through application of rigorous organizational and program standards organized around the ASPIRE to Excellence® continuous quality improvement framework.
• CARF accreditation has been the recognized benchmark of quality health and human services for more than 50 years.

Comments from the Surveyor:

• On balance, Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont demonstrated substantial conformance to the standards. Goodwill has clearly written policies and procedures to guide its operations and services. 
• The CEO is very knowledgeable about services and best practices and has outsourced aspects of workforce development, technology, and preparation for CARF accreditation. 
• The leadership team has a vast knowledge of retail stores, service provision, fiscal responsibility, and the CARF standards. The leadership team is also well respected in the community. Funding sources speak highly of the services they purchase from Goodwill. 
• The families and persons served express a high level of satisfaction in Goodwill's ability to meet their needs and expectations. There are numerous points of input from the stakeholders and this information is analyzed for continued improvement.

Survey Activities

Achieving CARF accreditation involves demonstrating conformance to the applicable CARF standards, evidenced through observable practices, verifiable results over time, and comprehensive supporting documentation. The survey of Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont and its program(s)/service(s) consisted of the following activities:

• Confidential interviews and direct interactions, as outlined in the previous section.
• Direct observation of the organization’s operations and service delivery practices.
• Observation of the organization’s location(s) where services are delivered.

• Review of organizational documents, which may include policies; plans; written procedures; promotional materials; governing documents, such as articles of incorporation and bylaws; financial statements; and other documents necessary to determine conformance to standards.
• Review of documents related to program/service design, delivery, outcomes, and improvement, such as program descriptions, records of services provided, documentation of reviews of program resources and services conducted, and program evaluations.
• Review of records of current and former persons served.

Following the survey, the CARF surveyor indicated areas of strengths and  areas that could be improved.

Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont appears likely to maintain and/or improve its current method of operation and demonstrates a commitment to ongoing quality improvement. Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont is required to submit a post-survey Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) to CARF that addresses all recommendations identified in this report.

Goodwill of the Berkshires and So. Vermont has earned a Three-Year Accreditation*. The leadership team and staff are complimented and congratulated for this achievement. In order to maintain this accreditation, throughout the term of accreditation, the organization is required to:

• Submit annual reporting documents and other required information to CARF, as detailed in the Accreditation Policies and Procedures section in the standards manual.
• Maintain ongoing conformance to CARF’s standards, satisfy all accreditation conditions, and comply with all accreditation policies and procedures, as they are published and made effective by CARF. 
• *Note:  3-year accreditation is the longest period that accreditation that is awarded.