Local Youth And Family Agency Becomes Accredited

NEWTOWN — Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) as a community-based behavioral health care and human service organization.

COA’s commitment to maintaining the highest level of standards and quality improvement is designed to identify providers that have set high performance standards for themselves and have made a commitment to their constituents to deliver the highest quality services.

The process involved an in-depth examination of the agency’s operation, including personnel, fiscal, and program management, both through completion of a comprehensive site self-assessment and an on-site review conducted by trained peer reviewers.

“This is an important milestone that demonstrates that the merger that formed Newtown Youth & Family Services was on the right track for providing the highest quality in family services,” said Beth Agen, executive director. “NYFS has demonstrated itself to be one of Connecticut’s leading family and social services agencies.”

COA accreditation is an objective and reliable verification that provides confidence and support to an organization’s service recipients, board members, staff and community partners. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of both an organization’s administrative operations and its service delivery practices.

All are measured against national standards of best practice.

These standards emphasize services that are accessible, appropriate, culturally responsive, evidence based, and outcomes-oriented. In addition, they confirm that the services are provided by a skilled and supported workforce and that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

“Because COA reviews and accredits the entire organization, not just specific programs, you can have confidence in the credibility, integrity, and achievement of your entire organization,” said COA in a written letter announcing the accreditation. “COA congratulates Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc for their hard work and wonderful achievement and is proud to have it as part of COA’s Community of Excellence.”

Founded in 1977, COA is an independent not-for-profit international accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and human service organizations. Today, more than 1,800 organizations — public and private — are either COA accredited or are in the process of seeking accreditation. These organizations serve more than seven million of the most vulnerable individuals each year.

Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc is a licensed, nonprofit, mental health clinic and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support groups, and education throughout the greater Newtown area regardless of ability to pay.

NYFS is licensed by the Department of Children & Families as an outpatient psychiatric clinic for children and by the Department of Public Health as a Psychiatric outpatient clinic for adults and as a facility for the care or treatment of substance abusive or dependent persons. NYFS is the designated Youth Service Bureau for the Town of Newtown and accredited by the Council on Accreditation. It is the only organization in Connecticut to hold all of these credentials.

To find out more about Newtown Youth & Family Services, visit the website newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org or call Beth Agen at 203-270-4335.