WHO IS ACCREDITED?

      Private Organization Accreditation

      Heartland for Children is the not-for-profit agency responsible for the foster care system in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.
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      ORGANIZATION TESTIMONIAL

      Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc.

      Donna Mathews, Associate Director

      Becoming accredited and maintaining our accreditation through COA has helped us increase our professionalism and thereby provide better services to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence survivors.
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      Purpose

      Individuals participating in Mentoring Services develop supportive, positive relationships that contribute to the achievement of personal, social, and educational growth.

      MS 2: Access to Services

      Matched relationships are available to children, youth, and adults who can benefit from additional support and friendship.

      Rating Indicators
      1
      All elements or requirements outlined in the standard are evident in practice, as indicated by full implementation of the practices outlined in the Practice standards.
      2
      Practices are basically sound but there is room for improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice standards; e.g.,
      • Minor inconsistencies and not yet fully developed practices are noted, however, these do not significantly impact service quality; or
      • Procedures need strengthening; or
      • With few exceptions procedures are understood by staff and are being used; or
      • For the most part, established timeframes are met; or
      • Proper documentation is the norm and any issues with individual staff members are being addressed through performance evaluations (HR 6.02) and training (TS 2.03); or
      • Active client participation occurs to a considerable extent.
      3
      Practice requires significant improvement, as noted in the ratings for the Practice standards. Service quality or program functioning may be compromised; e.g.,
      • Procedures and/or case record documentation need significant strengthening; or
      • Procedures are not well-understood or used appropriately; or
      • Timeframes are often missed; or
      • A number of client records are missing important information  or
      • Client participation is inconsistent; or
      • One of the Fundamental Practice Standards received a rating of 3 or 4.
      4
      Implementation of the standard is minimal or there is no evidence of implementation at all, as noted in the ratings for the Practice standards; e.g.,
      • No written procedures, or procedures are clearly inadequate or not being used; or
      • Documentation is routinely incomplete and/or missing; or  
      • Two or more Fundamental Practice Standards received a rating of 3 or 4.

      Table of Evidence

      Self-Study Evidence On-Site Evidence On-Site Activities
        • A description of mentor recruitment efforts for programs using volunteers
        • Outreach strategies and informational materials
        • Interview:
          1. Program director
          2. Mentor supervisors/coordinators

      • MS 2.01

        The organization provides mentors to children, youth, and/or adults who can benefit from:

        1. a role model whose support can help them develop a positive self-image, new behaviors, and coping skills;
        2. peer or intergenerational support to help them face identified life challenges or accomplish developmental tasks; and/or
        3. companionship.

        Interpretation: Organizations serving individuals with behavioral health needs, such as substance use or mental health conditions, often utilize peers as mentors to enhance service delivery outcomes and increase the likelihood that the service recipient will meet their individualized goals and objectives. 

        Interpretation: Organizations serving victims of human trafficking have utilized the survivor mentor model to stabilize and support victims of trafficking. This model employs an adult survivor of trafficking as a mentor to a newly identified victim who has recently exited their exploitative situation. By establishing a trusting relationship for traumatized victims, these programs provide a valuable tool to aid in their recovery and reintegration through empowerment and a sense of acceptance. Mentoring is often one piece within a continuum of services offered to victims of trafficking to meet their health and safety needs. Programs may also use mentors who are not survivors of human trafficking to work with sex or labor trafficking victims. 

        Research Note: Victims of human trafficking are in need of a comprehensive array of services, including mentoring services. Increasingly, first responders, including law enforcement and social service providers, are being trained to seek support services for human trafficking victims rather than prosecuting them for criminal activities they may have engaged in while being trafficked, such as prostitution, theft, undocumented status, and wage/hour violations. Recognizing that these individuals are victims rather than criminals is a paradigm shift still under way in our society. This paradigm shift is critical as trafficking victims are eligible for services and protections under federal and some state laws that may not be provided to them otherwise.

      • MS 2.02

        To sustain the program, the organization:

        1. makes an effort to recruit mentors from the community through advertisements, flyers, and word-of-mouth; and
        2. partners with community providers, businesses, and institutions to increase awareness of the program and identify potential mentors.

        Related

        NA The program only uses paid program staff as mentors.

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