title: Using evidence-based accreditation standards to promote continuous quality improvement: the experiences of the San Mateo County Human Services Agency.
abstract: Following a difficult period of service provision, an agency determined that drastic changes were needed to improve agency-wide capacity and functioning. The agency engaged in an organizational level self-assessment aimed at identifying areas for improvement and beginning work towards determining professional standards for service. Results of this organizational self-assessment paved the way for pursuing accreditation of its services, and the agency became the first public agency in its state to be accredited by the Council on Accreditation in all eligible services. This case study describes this agency's efforts in engaging in an organizational self-assessment, the analysis and codification of their practices, and their eventual development of a systematized process for capturing, evaluating and improving practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. kwinship@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winship
authors.forename: Selina Toy
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002140:California; D005843:Geography; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012946:Social Welfare; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*