MACON–The Missouri Department of Social Services held a news conference on Wednesday to announce that the 41st Circuit of the Children's Division has been found in compliance with the standards for accreditation by the Council on Accreditation (COA).  The 41st Circuit includes Macon and Shelby Counties.
"I want to congratulate staff in the 41st Circuit for their hard work and tremendous dedication to reach these national, best practice standards,” said Paula Neese, Children’s Division Director. “In meeting these standards the 41st Circuit staff helps maximize our efforts to achieve favorable outcomes for the children and families that we serve.”
The COA is an international, independent, not-for-profit accrediting body that evaluates behavioral health care and social service programs. Its strict accrediting process reviews all aspects of an organization based on national standards of best practices.
A panel of COA reviewers found the 41st Circuit to be in compliance with each of the major categories for more than 800 standards that an agency must follow to be accredited. The local office met rigorous standards in adoption services, foster and kinship care services, child protection services and family-centered casework, as well as organization and management standards in general areas such as ethical practice, financial management and organizational integrity.
"Each local jurisdiction will go through a similar process of strengthening their practices as the division works toward a goal of having Missouri’s entire state child welfare system obtain accreditation. Accreditation makes us a more professional organization, enabling us to meet the incredible demands placed on the child welfare system as we work with communities to protect Missouri's children. This process is making us a better child welfare organization," Neese said.
The state's child protection system is organized around Missouri's 45 judicial circuits. The 41st Circuit joins 43 other circuits and the state's Central Administration and Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline in meeting accreditation standards. The Children's Division expects to be fully accredited by fall.