Local nonprofit is fully accredited for its employment and job development services for adults with developmental disabilities
Project Independence (PI), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities in Orange County, announced that it has received a Three-Year Accreditation from CARF International, the highest level of accreditation the nonprofit accreditor of health and human services awards.
As a lifeline for one of the county’s most challenged populations for nearly 50 years, PI has provided comprehensive services throughout Orange County to thousands with developmental disabilities in their homes, at work, and in the community.
To determine if PI qualified for renewal of the Three-Year Accreditation, CARF representatives followed a rigorous peer review process, including site visits and in-depth evaluations of organizational policies and procedures. The process showed that PI had demonstrated its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and designed and operated to provide the greatest benefit to the people it serves.
The PI Supported Employment program creates a successful job match with employers and people with developmental disabilities knowing they can do the jobs they are hired to do. PI’s job is to provide whatever they need to be successful employees. (Project Independence)
“We are honored to receive the accreditation as it underscores our commitment to holding ourselves to the highest standards as we seek ways to continuously improve the services we offer,” said PI CEO Robert Watson. He said CARFs accreditation, research, continuous improvement services, and educational activities were conducted in accordance with PI’s core values and with the utmost integrity.
The process included a review of PI’s supported employment and job development program that creates a successful job match with employers and people with developmental disabilities knowing they can do the jobs they are hired to do. “Our job is to provide whatever they need to be successful, from assistance with the job application process, extra skills training, establishing priorities and creating task schedules, to educating employees at the job site and building natural supports,” Watson added. “As part of the employment program, PI provides on-site support that allows the individual to be successful in their new job.”
Since 1977, PI has placed over 1,000 people who on average keep their jobs for more than five years. Eighty-seven cents of every dollar raised by the organization goes directly to support vital programs for people with developmental disabilities.
For additional information about hiring a PI client, visit https://proindependence.org/ge… For general information about PI, please visit www.proindependence.org
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About CARF International
Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services in the areas of aging services; behavioral health; child and youth services; employment and community services; medical rehabilitation; and opioid treatment programs. The CARF International group of organizations includes CARF, CARF Canada, and CARF Europe and accredits more than 66,000 programs on five continents. More than 13 million persons of all ages are served annually by CARF-accredited providers. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF International website at carf.org.
