We are excited to share that we have earned our first-ever Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) three-year Quality Assurances Accreditation!
This milestone demonstrates that our vision and the work we’ve undertaken to achieve it align with internationally-renowned standards in the human services space. CQL’s rigorous standards involve the implementation of sound systems and person-centered practices that help to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Makom joins only six other organizations in Maryland to achieve this accreditation, and we are the first organization in Virginia. In fact, there are only 313 organizations in the US with Quality Assurances accreditation, so we are in elite company! More than that, accreditation for us represents our deep commitment to the highest standards of self-determination, excellence, inclusion, and excellence—our core organizational values and what we call our Makom DNA.
Makom pursued CQL Accreditation because of our alignment of vision and values. As we have leaned into our focus on outcomes, CQL became a natural partner in this work.
CQL accreditation is a way to evaluate what we’re doing well in this journey and where we can do more and better.
We wanted an internationally recognized framework that would help us strengthen person-centered practices, evaluate the effectiveness of our systems, and ensure that the people we support are achieving meaningful outcomes. Accreditation provides an opportunity to validate our strengths, identify opportunities for improvement, and demonstrate our commitment to excellence and accountability.
CQL accreditation is an independent, third-party recognition that reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, person-centered services.
Through this accreditation, we continue to strengthen the support we provide by promoting health and safety, choice, self-determination, relationships, community inclusion, and employment opportunities.
Most importantly, it means the individuals we support have a stronger voice and receive services that are continuously improving to help them live the lives they choose.
Makom systems that drive us toward CQL Accreditation have been reimagined or created outright to strengthen accountability and improve systems of measuring quality and how those systems are resourced and supported. While we are in the early stages of implementation, the accreditation framework provides clear expectations that support continuous improvement and reinforce alignment between our practices, mission, and values—our BA and POM Plans are operational roadmaps. The accreditation framework continues to center the people we support in all aspects of organizational performance.
It’s also given us good reason for celebration, an opportunity to pause for Makom, people we support, families, our Board of Directors, our staff, and our community to honor our journey and progress made and to embrace opportunities for continued growth.
Earning a three-year accreditation demonstrates that Makom not only talks about person-centered support but consistently delivers it. It also places us among an elite group of organizations committed to excellence, with fewer than 400 accredited organizations out of an estimated 12,000–15,000 similar providers nationwide.
For the people we support, CQL accreditation means their voices are at the center of everything we do. The accreditation process has strengthened our ability to listen, understand personal goals, and provide supports that promote choice, inclusion, and self-determination. It also means we are continually improving our services so each person has the best opportunity to achieve the life they want.
For families and loved ones, CQL accreditation provides confidence that Makom is committed to the highest standards of care and support. It demonstrates that our services are regularly evaluated by an independent organization and that we are continuously improving our practices.
