In 2019, The Kitchen, Inc. housed nearly 600 people including families with children. More than 35 percent of people we served were under the age of 18. Housing is the key!
The Kitchen, Inc. Achieves National Accreditation
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (August 13, 2018) — The Kitchen, Inc.is pleased to announce it has achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA). During the two year process, COA evaluated all aspects of The Kitchen’s programs, services, management, and administration.
The COA accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure that services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.
To achieve COA accreditation, The Kitchen first provided written evidence of compliance with the COA standards. Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with trustees, staff and clients.
Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted The Kitchen had successfully met the criteria for accreditation.
An endorsement of COA and the value of its accreditation process is reflected in it being named by the US State Department as the sole national independent accrediting body under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to accredit intercountry adoption service providers. In addition, COA is the only national accreditor designated by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop accreditation standards and processes for human service programs provided to military personnel and their families.
Housing is Key!
When Mercedez came into the Rapid Rehousing Families program through The Kitchen, Inc., she was fighting a meth addiction. After almost a year with the addiction, while still in the program, she had her children removed from her home and became involved in rehab and drug court.
For Mercedez, that was the incentive and support she needed to get completely off of drugs. She began working the program designed for her through the Division of Family Services and the court system to get her children back in the home. Also, during that time Mercedez got a part time job, and started school at OTC.
By the end of her program, Mercedez was making enough money to pay her own rent without any assistance, while gaining custody of her kids again. Mercedez has since developed huge dreams to work in the same field as a social worker. She has been drug free for more than one year now, and her future appears bright and promising. Thank you for helping Mercedez become successful and a contributing member of society.