What does it mean to be accredited?

When the service or program you choose is CARF-accredited, it means your provider has passed an in-depth review of its services. It is your assurance that the provider meets rigorous CARF guidelines for service and quality -- a qualified endorsement that your provider conforms to nationally and internationally recognized service standards and is focused on delivering the most favorable results for you.

A hallmark of quality

After an organization applies for accreditation of its services or programs, CARF sends professionals in the field to conduct an on-site survey to determine the degree to which the organization meets the standards. CARF surveyors also consult with staff members and offer suggestions for improving the quality of services.

CARF-accredited programs and services have demonstrated that they substantially meet internationally recognized standards. CARF accreditation means that you can be confident that an organization has made a commitment to continually enhance the quality of its services and programs and its focus on consumer satisfaction.

The benefits of accreditation to the consumer of services

Choosing CARF-accredited programs and services gives you the assurance that:

• The programs and services actively involve consumers in selecting, planning, and using services.
• The organization's programs and services have met consumer-focused, state-of-the-art national standards of performance.
• These standards were developed with the involvement and input of consumers.
• The organization is focused on assisting each consumer in achieving his or her chosen goals and outcomes.

What is quality?

CARF-accredited service providers meet the highest national and international standards for quality, such as employing qualified professional staff. CARF accreditation demonstrates quality on a more personal level -- your seal of satisfaction.

You want quality in the things you buy, in the things you produce, and in your life in general. You want it in the services you select for yourself, your family members, and your friends.

But what is quality?

The answer to this question is different for every person. Some commonly accepted values of quality for service providers include the following:

• The organization asks you, the customer, if you are satisfied with your services. The organization believes that only the customer can evaluate quality.
• Service planning is done by teams that include you and design your plan to meet your unique needs and preferences.
• The organization is responsive to your questions about your plan and services, and it makes sure that you have and understand the information you need.
• Service plans are individualized to meet your needs as a unique person.
• The mission and purpose of the organization reflect an attitude of "The customer is always right and should be delighted by the services provided and the service provider."

By asking questions and observing the service provider in action, you can get an idea of whether the provider delivers the quality services you would like to receive.

Copyright CARF © 2003. All rights reserved.

Rimrock Foundation has been accredited by CARF for the following programs:

Alcohol & Other Drugs/Addictions Programs

• Detoxification

Mental Health Programs

• Crisis Stabilization

Integrated Alcohol and Other Drugs/Addictions and Mental Health Programs

• Community Housing
• Inpatient Treatment
• Outpatient Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization

• Children and Adolescents
• Inpatient Treatment
• Outpatient Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization

February 1, 2006 - CARF announced that Rimrock Foundation has been accredited for a period of three years for the programs listed above. The latest accreditation is the third consecutive Three-Year Accreditation outcome that the international accrediting commission has awarded to Rimrock Foundation.

This accreditation outcome represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization's substantial conformance to the standards established by CARF. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation outcome has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during on an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.

Rimrock Foundation is a nonprofit organization with offices at 1231 N 29th Street in Billings, Montana. It has been providing Addiction Treatment services and Behavioral Health services in the Northern Rockies since 1968.

CARF is an independent, not-for-profit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.