Chaddock Receives Highest Honors in Accreditation

Chaddock recently learned that they have been re-accredited with highest honors by both the Council on Accreditation (COA) and the Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading Toward Excellence (EAGLE) Commission, an affiliate of the United Methodist Association.

Four individuals, two from COA and two from EAGLE, spent three days on the Chaddock campus last November examining files, manuals, and interviewing over 100 individuals, including staff, clients, parents, Board members, and community members.

Both reviews are extremely comprehensive, but their focus is somewhat different. Accreditation by COA is required for many therapeutic treatment programs, including those governed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Many other states from which Chaddock receives clients also require COA accreditation. EAGLE is the nation's only comprehensive, faith-based accrediting body, and takes into account the spiritual and mission-oriented aspects of an agency in addition to the 'nuts and bolts' of service delivery.

The COA reviewers reviewed more than 900 standards relating to all areas of the agency: programs, safety, food, maintenance, financial management, and policies and procedures. Following their exhaustive investigation, they identified just one single area for Chaddock to address.

In the exit conference, the COA reviewers commented: "The living philosophy is alive and well in the organization. Chaddock employees are highly motivated to the vision, mission, and values. The professionalism and confidence is striking. Chaddock's approach is relationship-based and all Chaddock employees are tuned in."

The EAGLE reviewers were equally thorough and positive about what they observed at Chaddock. The EAGLE Commission awarded Chaddock "Accreditation With Commendation," only the second time in EAGLE's history that this level of award has been granted.

The President/CEO of the United Methodist Association, Rev. Stephen Vinson, commented: "In recent years the EAGLE accreditation process has been revised, and the bar set much higher for agencies wishing to have the EAGLE 'stamp of approval'. Chaddock has demonstrated the highest level of excellence that I have ever seen in a United Methodist organization in both its commitment to the principles of the church and the delivery of services to those it serves. They have created a family there. They do the right things, and they do them for the right reasons."

Chaddock was founded as a ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1853 and has a legacy of more than 150 years of serving children. Today, the Chaddock team includes in excess of 200 highly trained employees who serve thousands of children and families every year through community, educational and residential services. Licensed, accredited and nationally respected, Chaddock is on the cutting edge of trauma-focused residential treatment demonstrating excellent results for children who have experienced severe abuse, neglect, or other trauma in their early years of development.