Lake ADAMHS Board Agency, WomenSafe, Inc. obtains three year accreditation from CARF
MEDIA RELEASE:
Contact: David Schick
The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board
Phone: 440-350-2193
Email: DSchick@LakeADAMHS.org
September 24, 2024
Mentor, OH: The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board has 16 organizations that it contracts with for mental health and drug addiction services. These non-profits are required to provide annual plans and strictly monitored and evaluated by the ADAMHS Board Staff, all to ensure that services and treatment meet or exceed the criteria of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS). These licenses and accreditations can be cumbersome for smaller organizations, like WomenSafe, Inc., but those that complete them know it is worth it to ensure they provide top-notch care and support for their organization. The CARF process includes a rigorous review of over 1500 national standards and seeing how certified agencies demonstrate the adherence to these best practices in behavioral health delivery.
WomenSafe was founded by a group of community activists determined to ensure that nobody has to live in fear, WomenSafe has been serving survivors of domestic violence throughout Northeast Ohio for over 40 years. With the help of their inspired donors and community advocates, like the Lake County ADAMHS Board, their free, life-saving services continue to be available to those that need it most. WomenSafe’s support services include: an emergency shelter, court advocacy, counseling, art therapy, peer support groups, employment advocacy, and more to empower survivors on their journey towards a safe, independent life.
As the only OhioMHAS certified domestic violence shelter serving Lake County they recently received an reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. Through accreditation, CARF assists service providers in demonstrating value by the quality of their services and meeting internationally-recognized organizational and program standards. CARF is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1966 with the assistance of Mary E. Switzer, then U.S. Social and Rehabilitation Services Commissioner.
Kim Fraser, Executive Director of the Lake ADAMHS Board emphasized, “We are thrilled that WomenSafe has taken upon themselves to earn additional accreditations. It shows that our support service providers want to go above and beyond for each of their clients whether it be involving a domestic violence episode, a mental illness, or drug addiction treatment. Their work saves and improves the lives of those living in Lake County. Although WomenSafe is located in Chardon, over 30% of their clients are from Lake County and receive our funding.”
Andrea Gutka, Chief Executive Officer at WomenSafe stated, “While the process of any accreditation can be daunting, we believe that it is critical to providing services to survivors of domestic violence. It not only shows that the agency adheres to best practices internationally, but also provides reassurance to survivors that the services they will receive are trusted and vetted by organizations outside their own walls. WomenSafe appreciates the ongoing partnership shared with the Lake ADAMHS Board and the value they place on all contracted agencies to be the best of the best. Together we are changing the lives of Lake County residents.”
About WomenSafe, Inc.: WomenSafe’s mission is to provide emergency shelter and support services to survivors of domestic violence throughout Northeast Ohio. For more information, WomenSafe.org
About the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board: The Lake County ADAMHS Board plans, funds, monitors, and evaluates services available to residents who are living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. For more information, HelpThatWorks.us
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Photo attached owned and able to be used for media. Photo credit Andrea Gutka from WomenSafe.