Key takeaways:
- Drug rehab certification isa certificate from a third-party organization on top of standard state license requirements.
- Rehabs that are accredited are held to a higher standard than mainstream rehab centers, offering better care.
- Different awarding bodies include JCAHO, CARF, HIPAA, and NABH.
- All Avenues Recovery rehabs are accredited by JCAHO or CARF awarding bodies. Reach out for help today!
What to look for in a drug rehab
It’s been a while since you last recognized your child as the beautiful son or daughter you gave birth to. Drugs and alcohol have robbed them of their innocence, their personality, and their happiness. And as a parent watching this unfold, it’s heartbreaking. You desperately need a path forward, a plan to help your child recover from the substances that are wreaking destruction over their lives and the lives of those around them.
When searching for the right rehab center to support your child with drug or alcohol addiction, there are several important factors to consider. Start by identifying a residential treatment facility that specializes in treating your child’s specific substance use disorder. Next, consider the location of the center—many families prefer options closer to home to make visitation and ongoing family involvement easier.
It’s also important to verify insurance coverage by contacting your provider to understand which treatment programs are included in your plan. Finally, look for rehab centers that are accredited by reputable third-party organizations, as accreditation helps ensure the facility meets established standards for safety, quality of care, and clinical effectiveness.
This article will explore drug rehab accreditation and why it matters when choosing the best possible care for your child.
What drug rehab certification says about the facility
To receive drug rehab accreditation, a facility must comply with rigorous protocols and guidelines beyond standard state licensing requirements. Accreditation is granted by independent third-party organizations within the addiction and mental health field and serves as an additional layer of oversight focused on quality, safety, and clinical standards.
Unlike state licensure—which is required for legal operation—accreditation is voluntary and indicates a higher commitment to best practices. To earn accreditation, a treatment center must undergo comprehensive evaluations of its staff qualifications, safety procedures, clinical care, operations, and organizational policies.
This review process is extensive, time-intensive, and costly, which is why not all rehab facilities pursue accreditation. However, for families seeking the highest standards of care, accreditation can be an important indicator of a center’s commitment to excellence.
Why is drug rehab certification so important?
An accredited facility is accountable to an independent third-party organization that regularly monitor sits operations. Accreditation bodies may conduct unannounced site visits, review clinical data, and gather patient feedback to ensure standards are consistently upheld. They also require facilities to follow current, evidence-based treatment approaches and maintain the highest safety practices.
In other words, rehabs accredited by third-party organizations voluntarily subject their programs, policies, and day-to-day operations to rigorous oversight. This commitment to accountability helps create a safe, supportive environment for healing—one where your child can focus fully on growth and recovery and receive the highest standard of care.
Understanding awarding bodies
Several organizations award accreditation to rehab facilities. The two most widely recognized are JCAHO(The Joint Commission) and CARF (the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). Read on to learn what JCAHO accreditation means and to explore other organizations that grant rehab accreditation.
JCAHO Certified:
What does JCAHO stand for? JCAHO is anacronym for ‘Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations,’ more commonly known as The Joint Commission. It is a nonprofit organization made up of healthcare and mental health professionals that evaluates and accredits more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs across the United States.
The Joint Commission accredits a wide range of healthcare providers, including hospitals, behavioral health and addiction treatment programs, pharmacies, assisted living communities, and nursing care facilities.
JCAHO meaning: What does being JCAHO accredited actually mean?
A JCAHO-accredited facility has demonstrated compliance with rigorous standards set by The Joint Commission. This requires regular onsite evaluations, ongoing staff training, enhanced safety protocols, and higher expectations for clinical care and treatment practices. Accredited facilities are formally reviewed at least once every three years to ensure they continue to meet The Joint Commission’s standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness of care.
CARF:
CARF stands for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This accreditation body services more than 60,000programs all over the US, Canada, and Europe. They aim to accredit health and human services in physical and mental health programs such as:
- Behavioral health
- Child and youth services
- Employment and community services
- Opioid treatment programs
- Aging services
A CARF audit is a thorough, consumer-centered process that focuses on each client’s strengths, abilities, needs, and preferences to support recovery in the safest and most effective way possible.
HIPAA:
HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability, exists to protect clients' private and sensitive information. They provide accreditation for healthcare providers, health plans, business associates, and more.
NABH:
The National Association for Behavioral Healthcare is an awarding body advocate for behavioral healthcare, specifically mental health and substance use disorders. They award accreditation to hospitals, residential treatment facilities, intensive outpatient programs, recovery support services, and more.
NAATP:
NAATP is a non-profit organization that supports addiction treatment providers. All members of NAATP (rehab centers, private therapies, outpatient treatment, residential treatment centers, and more) receive resources and law and policy advocacy and work to collaborate and bring the highest quality care for all people struggling with addiction.
Drug rehab certification: what it means for you
At Avenues Recovery, we believe inworking alongside parents to help them support their child’s recovery. While you may not be able to control your child’s decisions, you can take meaningful steps to research quality treatment options and remove barriers to care so they can get the help they need.
For this reason, choosing a facility accredited by a respected organization--such as the JCAHO or CARF--is strongly recommended. All Avenues Recovery treatment centers are accredited by either The Joint Commission or CARF, reflecting our commitment to high standards of safety, clinical excellence, and ethical care.
With locations nationwide, families can often find a treatment center close to home.
Reach out today to learn more and speak with our team about the next steps.