FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2014
Jackson County Children’s Division in Compliance with Council on Accreditation Standards
Jefferson City, MO—The Missouri Department of Social Services received notification that the Jackson County Children’s Division was found in compliance with the national Council on Accreditation standards.
“I congratulate Director Decker and the entire team at the Jackson County Children’s Division office for meeting the high criteria of the national Council on Accreditation,” Gov. Nixon said. “The dedicated men and women of Missouri’s Children Division work tirelessly to keep our children safe and to strengthen families throughout the state. The value of their work is immeasurable and I applaud them on this well-deserved recognition.”
“We are proud of our leadership team, staff, and community partners for meeting these high standards and their commitment to achieving safety, permanency, and well-being for Jackson County children and families,” said Tim Decker, director of the Children’s Division. “We look forward to completing the process in our other county offices and achieving statewide reaccreditation.”
The Council on Accreditation is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of community-based behavioral healthcare and social service organizations. Missouri is one of only six states accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is currently in the reaccreditation process.
“This is a tremendous achievement that demonstrates that your agency is recognized as a provider that continues to successfully implement high performance standards and, as such, is delivering the highest quality services to all of its stakeholders,” said Richard Klarberg, president and CEO, Council on Accreditation, in his congratulatory email to the Children’s Division
Ten sites, the Children’s Division central office and nine regional areas, including judicial circuits have been found in compliance with Council on Accreditation standards. The Council on Accreditation has visited all 15 sites, and the remaining five sites are actively progressing through the reaccreditation process.
All counties in Missouri will need to be found in compliance with COA standards before the Children’s Division is fully reaccredited. The Missouri Children’s Division first achieved accreditation January 14, 2010.
The mission of the Children’s Division is to protect Missouri children from abuse and neglect, and assuring their safety and well being by partnering with families, communities and government in an ethically, culturally and socially responsible manner.###