Our Accreditations & Philosophies
AHRC Nassau is regarded as a respected and innovative leader in the field of developmental disabilities. We pride ourselves on a culture of empowering people with developmental disabilities to be active stakeholders in every aspect of our agency. With a focus on person-centered services and valued outcomes, we are once again leading the way alongside the very people who access our services.
In 2004, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) recognized the agency for our commitment to high quality service by certifying us as a COMPASS agency, making us one of only four agencies in New York State to achieve this status.
About CQL
AHRC Nassau has been awarded the four-year Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction, from CQL ǀ The Council on Quality and Leadership. This award confirms that the organization embraces person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services.
When AHRC Nassau partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve supports and services. The efforts of AHRC Nassau were focused on empowering the people who receive supports to pursue what really matters in their lives, and achieve their personally-defined outcomes.
AHRC Nassau has been awarded CQL accreditation as a result of demonstrating proficiency in the following areas:
- Basic Assurances®
Ensuring fundamental safeguards related to health, safety and human security - Personal Outcome Measures®
Supporting and empowering people to achieve their goals and dreams - Person-Centered Excellence
Demonstrating organizational commitment to continued enhancement of systems
“CQL commends AHRC Nassau for its success in increasing the quality of life for the people it supports. We are pleased to partner with them on this journey of ongoing organizational transformation,” states Mary Kay Rizzolo, president and CEO of CQL.
Long term goals for person centered excellence
As part of the accreditation process, AHRC Nassau worked together with key stakeholders including self-advocates, families, board members, staff and community members to set three goals for the future. Click on each goal below to learn more:
- People have the authority to direct their supports and services – click here to see the plan
- Community membership facilitates personal opportunities, resources and relationships – click here to see the plan
- Keeping the public informed will enhance partnerships, enhance community membership and improve community relationships – click here to see the plan
AHRC Nassau’s corps of volunteers, men and women with developmental disabilities, provide many services for their neighbors in the community. From food shopping for homebound citizens to delivering Meals on Wheels, volunteers take pride in giving back to their communities. Learn more about what we’re involved in and how we can assist your community.
About our COMPASS Accreditation
COMPASS is an initiative that recognizes and promotes provider agencies that have progressed beyond minimal regulatory compliance and have achieved excellence in service delivery. COMPASS agencies engage their entire organization by encouraging service recipients, board members, management, and staff to work together in a person-centered environment with the goal of promoting and achieving valued outcomes for the people served.
COMPASS has evolved and grown to a level in which empowerment is the most predominant theme, influencing all aspects of AHRC and driving all other COMPASS criterion. Teaching, supporting and reinforcing self-advocacy is a key ingredient to empowerment. AHRC councils meet throughout the agency on an ongoing basis and report to the COMPASS Committee and the Board of Directors. People’s voices have become loud and strong and are now an integral part of all levels of the agency’s decision making process. To learn more about COMPASS click here.
Read our July 2015 semi-annual COMPASS report by clicking here.