The prestigious Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction is being awarded to Accord by CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. This designation acknowledges that Accord is among an elite group of organizations in the disability services sector. Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction includes stringent eligibility requirements, rigorous standards, and heightened expectations that only a handful of provider agencies have been able to meet.

“Accord is delivering the highest level of quality in their services and they’re having an extraordinary impact on people’s lives!” says Mary Kay Rizzolo, President and Chief Executive Officer of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. “It’s not easy to attain this type of accreditation, so we want to congratulate them on this impressive achievement.”

At Accord, we make it possible for people living with disabilities and mental health issues to achieve their personal and career goals and live life to the fullest. We take a proven, evidence-based approach to improve personal outcomes and quality of life for adults and families in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, offering a unique array of transformative programs and services delivered by dedicated, caring staff. We listen to their needs. We learn from their experiences. And we use those insights to lead the industry in person-centered care and support.

“It was our involvement, demonstration of success, seeking feedback to do even better, and our enthusiasm to help people live their greatest lives that showed the reviewers why we earned Distinction,” says Rita Wiersma, CEO of Accord.

Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction includes CQL accreditation components involving the validation of a Basic Assurances^® Self-Assessment, implementation of the Personal Outcome Measures^®, alignment with Shared Values, along with various planning meetings, visits, focus groups, and consultation with CQL staff members.

The ‘With Distinction’ designation then builds off these standards with enhanced eligibility requirements, demonstration of an organization’s impact on the broader community, utilization of CQL Certification in the Personal Outcome Measures^®, implementation of an integrated quality management system, agency practices involving advocacy, and more. To attain the four-year term of Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction, organizations must obtain approval from a CQL committee of experts in the human services field.

“We’re honored to partner with Accord on this accreditation,” adds Katherine Dunbar, Vice President of Services and Systems Excellence of CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. “They embody the very best in human services and the ‘With Distinction’ accreditation is a validation of their hard work.”