River Edge Receives NADD Accreditation
A conversation with Greta O'Dell Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Director
Q: Tell us about NADD Accreditation and what this means for your community.
A: It is estimated that over one million people in the US have a dual diagnosis of Intellectual Disability and Mental Illness. The National Association for Dually Diagnosed (NADD) created the accreditation program to improve the quality and effectiveness of services provided to individuals with a dual diagnosis.
While a program can receive accreditation, it is required as part of the accreditation for a minimum of 10% of the staff to receive certification. A provider staff can receive certification separately from an accredited program.
"Central Georgians can rest assured that the programs and staff who are providing treatment and support are highly trained and committed to best practices for serving individuals who have intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses."
Both the accreditation and the certification programs are interrelated quality improvement programs that focus on accreditation for agency programs, a competency-based certification program for clinical staff, and direct support professionals. I looked at accreditation as an opportunity to strengthen our programs and discovered that River Edge is exceeding the standards set forth by NADD.
Q: What was the process?
A: River Edge Behavioral Health first became a member of the National Association of Dually Diagnosed (NADD). Membership is available to agencies or individual persons through the website www.thenadd.org. Our agency downloaded the standards which are free to anyone interested in the program, and reviewed our internal processes to ensure they aligned with the NADD standards.
REBH spoke with the NADD staff on several occasions prior to our scheduled survey to gather additional information about the process.
REBH leadership discussed and decided on which programs to apply for accreditation with NADD, and completed the NADD application. During the survey, conversations at every staff level of our organization as well as the opportunity to tour programs and see interactions between staff and individuals served. The survey evaluated the policies and practices and offer consultation when needed to achieve best practices. River Edge was granted a three-year accreditation of the following programs: Outpatient Services, IDD Day Supports, IDD Residential Supports, Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit, and IDD Community Housing scoring 53 out of 54 possible points.
Q: What does this mean for CCBHC certification?
A: The mission of NADD is to advance mental wellness for persons with developmental disabilities through the promotion of quality mental health care. This mission aligns with the CCBHC model of ensuring access to coordinated care that treats the person as a whole, meaning individuals can receive an array of social, medical, and behavioral services. NADD also indicates that programs within the CCBHC meet the high standards established by NADD for providing services to individuals with dual diagnosis.
