About Accreditation

Community Sexual Assault Programs (CSAPs) in Washington State receive their funding through the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA). Every four years, each CSAP undergoes a rigorous accreditation process, whereby they are audited by an outside agency, Northwest Resource Associates (NWRA) to ensure that sexual assault survivors have access to quality services across the state.

OCVA is responsible for the accreditation process broadly, including the determination of accreditation standards and the enforcement of the accreditation process. NWRA conducts the accreditation review and delivers each program’s score to OCVA.

WCSAP staff provides technical assistance to CSAPs as they prepare for accreditation. This technical assistance varies widely in scope and is developed in response to each program’s individual needs. For some programs, this means that WCSAP staff provides assistance and guidance over the telephone. For others, WCSAP staff travels to the CSAP to provide intensive on-site assistance.

Accreditation Resources

 Service Standards from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy

• Please Note:  The standard Prevention:  Community Development is no longer assessed during the accreditation review.

Accreditation Standards from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, June 2011

• Important Note: These Standards were changed again in August 2011 and February 2012. A complete revised version of the Standards is not available at this time. Please be sure to integrate the “Accreditation Standard Revisions” (from August 2011) below and the information you received from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy over the last two years, including the elimination of Standard CS7 (February 2012) from accreditation review. Contact WCSAP for clarification or additional information.

Accreditation Standard Revisions from the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, August 2011

• Please note: This is not the full set of Accreditation Standards. It supplements the June 2011 version.

Accreditation Toolkit: NEW!   The Toolkit has been revised to reflect the changes in Accreditation Standards over the past two years.  Be sure to check OCVA information on revised Standards as well.  This handbook gives you step-by-step information on how to prepare for your accreditation review.  No matter where your agency is in the accreditation cycle, you will find valuable information on how to maintain information, manage your program, and remain in compliance with Accreditation Standards. 

Accreditation Standard Changes by OCVA since 2010:   

•   AC5 – eliminated 2011
• FM1 – revised 2011
• FM2 – eliminated 2011
• FM3 – eliminated 2011
• FM5 – revised 2011
• CS1 – revised 2010
• CS7 – eliminated 2012
• CS8 – eliminated 2010

Accreditation Reminders   

• Follow your policies, procedures, and plans!  For example: diversity plan (P4), cultural competency plan (AC1), review of barriers to service (AC3), review of salary schedule (P7), review of job descriptions (P2), review of personnel policies (P3), etc.
• Continue to ensure that all personnel are qualified, according to the core service standards and standard P10.
• Continue to orient personnel (including Board members) in accordance with agenda for orientation developed in response to AGA3, P13 and FE3.  Follow your plan to provide them with on-going training & document their attendance at these trainings.
• Provide all personnel with annual evaluations, giving staff an opportunity to comment on the evaluation before placing it in their file (P15).
• Keep all personnel files up-to-date! (P16)
• Document collaboration efforts (AC4) and opportunities to advocate for social change (AC5).
• Fiscal maintenance: complete annual report, audit, minutes/reports of finance committee (FM2), complete time studies if necessary (FM3), follow fund-raising plan (FM4).
• Collect useful data & use data to plan program. (QA1 &2)
• Make sure that you comply with requirements for annual updates.

Some Recommendations

• Collaboration/networking notebook
• Year-long meeting topic & training calendar
• Orientation checklists for personnel & Board Members
• Personnel file checklists
• Training logs
• Write position qualifications & employee classifications into job descriptions
• Social change notebook