Familylinks Achieves National Accreditation through COA

Pittsburgh, PA – Familylinks has achieved national accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA). Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA visited Familylinks for three days in October and evaluated all aspects of our programs and services, including management and administration.

COA, a service of Social Current, is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The accreditation process involves a detailed review and 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 demonstrates accountability in the administration and sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.

Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted that Familylinks had successfully met the criteria for accreditation. This decision was delivered in less than three weeks based on Familylinks high performance.

Familylinks is one of the Pittsburgh area’s largest, most comprehensive, and most respected human service providers. The agency has served Western Pennsylvania for more than 65 years, bringing vital support services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Familylinks was formed in 2001, through the merger of two of the region’s human service organizations, The Whale’s Tale (est. 1970) and Parent & Child Guidance Center (est. 1956). As a result, Familylinks provides a vast array of services that address the multi-dimensional and complex needs of individuals and families.  

To fulfill Familylinks’ mission to positively impact lives, a continuum of family-centered services are delivered across 23 Pennsylvania counties in the areas of aging, behavioral health, service coordination, and youth and family services. To learn more, visit www.familylinks.org or call 866-583-6003.

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