David Y. Ige

HONOLULU — For the first time, the Hawaii State Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division/Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) and Clubhouses have received systemwide accreditation from CARF International for demonstrating their commitment to quality outcomes for Hawaii’s mental health patients.

“We are proud of our adult mental health team for being willing to be accountable and provide measurable programs of the highest quality,” said Dr. Virginia Pressler, Director of the Department of Health. “This momentous accomplishment is a tribute to the hard work and conscientiousness of our CMHC staff and a testament to the quality of clinical services which our state-operated programs deliver as critical safety net providers to individuals throughout our state.”

CARF International announced that the Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division, Community Mental Health Center Branches have been accredited for a period of three years for their adult mental health programs relating to case management/services coordination, community integration (psychosocial rehabilitation), and outpatient treatment.

This is the first statewide accreditation that the international accrediting body has awarded to the Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division state-operated Community Mental Health Centers and Clubhouses (Rehabilitation Service Sections).

This milestone represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the Department of Health has substantially met the CARF standards. The three-year accreditation requires a rigorous peer review process, which included an onsite visit by a team of surveyors.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing lives. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, visit www.carf.org.

The Department of Health Adult Mental Health Division provides an array of services in state owned and operated facilities and through state developed contracts with private providers.  For more information on the Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division visit www.health.hawaii.gov/amhd.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Mark Fridovich

Adult Mental Health Division

(808) 586-4770

 

Janice Okubo
Communications Office
Phone: (808) 586-4445