Accreditation
The Ranch was first accredited in 1971 and has successfully maintained accreditation since that time. The Ranch is absolutely committed to working together to achieve excellence for the young people and families that we serve.
Council on Accreditation (COA)
Currently, Ranch Ehrlo Society is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.
The Council on Accreditation (COA) was established in 1977 and is a nationally recognized, independent accreditor of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations. More than 1,500 private and public organizations that serve over 7,000,000 children, individuals, and families are accredited or are in the process of becoming accredited by COA.
Why does the Ranch choose to be accredited?
- It is one of many strategies that are used at the Ranch to help strengthen, measure, and validate our effectiveness in helping the young people and families we serve.
- It requires that we stop and take a detailed look at all aspects of our programs and services, and it puts a time-limit on this review.
- It is not mandatory for the Ranch Ehrlo Society to become accredited, but since we are always striving for continued excellence it is something we do voluntarily.
- It assists us in keeping up-to-date with the latest ―best-practice research and literature reviews. From this information, we can make informed decisions with regards to the need (if any) to adjust our current practices, processes, and/or policies.
- It helps to increase our credibility with external stakeholders as obtaining COA accreditation is no small undertaking.
Ranch Ehrlo Society has also become the first residential treatment program to join UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). UNESCO hosts an Associated Schools Network among its 192 member countries of which Ranch Ehrlo is now included.
Ranch Ehrlo Society is also a member of The Alliance for Children and Families. A membership association that provides a variety of services to private and nonprofit human service organizations throughout United States and Canada.
In 2011, the Ranch Ehrlo Society joined the American Association of Children’s Residential Centers (AACRC), which focuses on clinical excellence and best practices in residential treatment.
