SANTA ANA, Calif. – February 28, 2022 – Goodwill of Orange County has been issued a three-year accreditation from CARF International for its Workforce Development and Disabilities Services programs. CARF accreditation has been the recognized benchmark of quality health and human services for more than 50 years.
In issuing the accreditation, CARF identified no recommendations for program updates or changes, an honor accomplished by only three percent of CARF surveys.
“Being recognized by CARF International with the highest level of accreditation with no recommendations is an incredible accomplishment for our organization and further strengthens our drive to serve our community,” said Nicole Suydam, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County. “Our team has persevered through the many challenges presented over the last few years and through it all, remained committed to providing quality services and opportunities to people facing barriers. I am endlessly proud of our team for this major achievement!”
CARF surveyors noted several organizational areas of strength, including extraordinary commitment to providing participant-centered and outcomes-based programs, services, and supports; resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing to retain positive outcomes in all it does; and exemplifying awareness, recognition and active response to meeting the clients’ needs in a manner that truly demonstrates cultural awareness and competency, among many others.
The CARF three-year accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.
Goodwill’s Disabilities Services programs provide job training, employment opportunities, self-advocacy support and community integration for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities and individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These programs aim to provide a pathway to more choices, opportunities and independence for our program participants. Goodwill’s Workforce Development programs match individuals ready for employment with the right jobs. No matter the barrier or level of experience, Goodwill helps everyone who wants a job find one. These innovative programs serve individuals with mental health diagnoses, students and youth with disabilities or past justice involvement, and individuals with developmental or physical disabilities.
Each year, Goodwill of Orange County serves more than 19,000 individuals in Orange County through 25 innovative programs and services aimed at helping people facing barriers find and keep meaningful jobs. As a nonprofit employment social enterprise, Goodwill’s collection of 23 stores and its online marketplace, ShopGoodwill.com, provide the funding that make these programs possible.
All of Goodwill of Orange County’s programs and services are accredited through March 31, 2024.
About Goodwill of Orange County
Goodwill of Orange County helps people who are facing barriers find and keep jobs, which provides purpose, pride and dignity. Since its inception in 1924, Goodwill has supported hundreds of thousands of individuals through its Workforce Development, Disabilities Services and Veteran Services programs. As a prominent social enterprise, the nonprofit operates a collection of 23 secondhand retail venues throughout Orange County, including five OC Goodwill Boutiques and its e-commerce platform ShopGoodwill.com, to support these life-changing programs and services, and continues to play a leading role in county sustainability practices and waste diversion. When you shop or donate to Goodwill of Orange County, it is Good for you. Good for the community. Good for the planet. To learn more about Goodwill of Orange County, visit ocgoodwill.org.
