YWCA Dayton achieves national re-accreditation

YWCA Dayton has achieved national re-accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA), the culmination of an intense 4-year process. YWCA Dayton was first accredited by COA in 2015; the re-accreditation remains valid through 2023.“Reaccreditation is a tremendous achievement that demonstrates that your organization 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 Jody Levison-Johnson, COA President and CEO.YWCA Dayton is accredited in seven service areas, including domestic violence services, crisis hotline, housing, and case management. YWCA Dayton is the only COA-accredited domestic violence services site in Montgomery and Preble counties and is one of only 61 COA-accredited domestic violence services sites nationwide.

Additionally, two of YWCA Dayton’s programs – behavioral health and social advocacy – received individual accreditations, marking the first time a YWCA in the U.S. has been accredited for its social justice work, which includes public policy support, issue education, and grassroots outreach.

Explains Advocacy Manager Sarah Wolf-Knight: “Social advocacy plays a critical role in the YWCA Theory of Change, because we know that even while we provide excellent frontline services that address immediate needs – such as our 24/7 Crisis Hotline, domestic violence shelters, and rapid rehousing program – we also want to address systemic gaps and do the work that will eliminate the need for those frontline services in the first place.”COA accreditation is an objective validation of an agency’s performance. The COA accreditation process involves a detailed analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement. Explains Nicholas Hubbard, YWCA Dayton special projects manager:

“COA accreditation confirms that the women, children, and families served by YWCA Dayton are receiving top-quality care which ensures the highest level of outcomes to further our mission. COA accreditation confirms to our community that we will continue to operate with excellence.”

To achieve COA accreditation, YWCA Dayton first provided written evidence of compliance with COA standards; then, a group of specially trained volunteer peer reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of onsite interviews with Board members, staff, and clients.Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer, make a donation, participate in our 21-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge, or attend an upcoming Y-Dub Discussions session.