Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services (MH/DS) earned accreditation for three years from CARF International following an extensive review of the agency and its programs and services.
MH/DS received its fifth consecutive three-year accreditation, the strongest endorsement that it substantially complies with CARF standards. CARF, founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with health and human service providers to assess and improve the quality of their services based on internationally recognized organizational and program standards.
MH/DS’s accreditation followed a survey in late January that focused on 11 program and service areas, including treatment, case management, community housing and integration, prevention services and community employment services. MH/DS is a Henrico agency that provides mental health, substance abuse and developmental services for the counties of Henrico, Charles City and New Kent.
“The leadership is present and very approachable by the consumers, staff members and other stakeholders. Services and programs function at an exceptionally high level, and administrative support processes are excellent,” CARF said in its survey report.
“I was pleased that the surveyors recognized so many strengths throughout the agency,” said Michael D. O’Connor, executive director of MH/DS. “Among those they singled out were employment services, youth-oriented prevention services, services to adults with a serious mental illness and financial management. I am very proud of our staff.”
