First Agency Headquartered in WNY to Undergo Rigorous Process, Receive Coveted Award

May 5, 2014: People Inc., Western New York's leading non-profit human services agency, has been awarded the coveted four-year, national Person-centered Excellence Accreditation from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership.

People Inc. is the first agency headquartered in Western New York to achieve this accreditation, which confirms that People Inc. shares CQL’s vision for person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services.  

Through a variety of services including residential, employment, community outreach, senior services, health care and recreation programs, People Inc. helps people with developmental disabilities, seniors and families and live more healthy, independent and productive lives.

“The CQL Person-centered Excellence Accreditation process was an important avenue for all of us at People Inc. to reaffirm our commitment to providing the highest level of services focused on helping individuals with developmental disabilities to participate and succeed in today’s society,” said Rhonda Frederick, chief operating officer for People Inc.

“As part of this accreditation, People Inc. will continue to enhance its systems directly related to person-centered services and in empowering the people who receive support from us to make choices in how they live their lives … where they work, where they live, and how they create a community,” she said.

When People Inc. partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve services and supports.

“It was not only the size and scope of our services but more importantly the level of commitment from our team and our culture, which focuses innately on person-centered services, that helped us through the process to achieve this accreditation,” Frederick said. “It was an excellent opportunity to take a good look at ourselves, with the help of the individuals we serve and their families, and see how we can raise the bar even higher for their future benefit.”

People Inc. was awarded CQL accreditation as a result of demonstrating proficiency in the areas of:

• Basic Assurances (ensuring fundamental safeguards related to health, safety and human security)
• Personal Outcome Measures® (supporting and empowering people to achieve their goals and dreams)
• Person-centered Excellence (demonstrating organizational commitment to continued enhancement of systems directly related to person-centered services)

Cathy Ficker Terrill, President and CEO of CQL, stated, “CQL commends People Inc. for its success in increasing the quality of life for the people it supports. We are pleased to partner with them on this journey.”

For more information on CQL's Person-centered Excellence Accreditation go to http://www.thecouncil.org/CQLAccreditation

About CQL

For more than 40 years CQL has been a leader in raising the bar for human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure and improve the quality of life of all people. Organizations that are awarded accreditation by CQL meet a stringent set of criteria and demonstrate an on-going commitment to person-centered excellence.

About People Inc.

People Inc. is a not-for-profit health and human services agency providing programs and services to more than 12,000 people with special needs, their families, and seniors throughout Western New York. Since 1971, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity.

Contact: Nicole Forgione, Public Affairs Manager

Direct: 716-817-7490 or nforgione@people-inc.org