Accreditation through EASNA and COA:
Improving Quality for EAP Programs
EASNA is proud to offer its members access to a valuable membership benefit: an accreditation program developed in partnership with the Council on Accreditation. Accreditation through EASNA and COA is a unique solution to the problem of assuring that employee assistance programs meet the recognized standards of their domain and its professionals.
Contact Information 
For more information about accreditation, please contact Joseph Seoane,
Director of Client Relations, at 866-262-8088, x263,
or jseoane@coanet.org.
Why Become Accredited?
Accreditation tells your consumers, client companies, and other stakeholders that your program has demonstrated organizational strength and the highest possible service quality. EASNA supports accreditation because it standardize the practices and services delivered, reducing risk and ensuring more consistent, professional, and high-quality service across the industry. It also provides objective outcome data that can help guide the field towards new developments and practices.
Accreditation also affords you with a detailed analysis that charts specific strengths and weaknesses in your organization's governance, operations, and services, thus providing a framework for ongoing improvement. At all times, and especially when resources are limited, funds must be spent in efficient and effective ways that are consistent with the canons of good practice and management. COA accreditation is an effective means in ensuring that this is accomplished.
Why Select an Accredited EAP Provider?
A COA accredited provider has invested significant time and resources to meet or exceed the requirements, so organizations selecting such a provider can be assured that accredited firm demonstrate a high level of professionalism. Accreditation demonstrates a provider’s commitment and ability to deliver consistent quality service. Here’s why.
The COA accreditation program offers participating firms its acclaimed Contextual Accreditation—a strategy to strengthen, measure and validate organizational effectiveness. Contextual Accreditation focuses on each organization’s unique mission, resources and culture, as well as the unique needs and aspirations of the people it serves.
COA’s 8th Edition Standards are at the core of Contextual Accreditation. Recognizing that human service organizations are faced with increasing pressure to document “what works” in terms of meeting the unique needs and aspirations of the people they serve, the 8th Edition Standards promote the principle that increased organizational capacity is linked to improved service delivery and that this, in turn, results in better outcomes.
COA’s Approach to Accreditation and Its Value to the EAP Field
Since its founding almost 30 years ago, COA’s mission has been to partner with organizations to improve the lives of the individuals, families and communities they serve. In order to achieve its mission in today’s ever-changing environment, COA has developed Contextual Accreditation--a strategy to strengthen, measure and validate organizational effectiveness. Contextual Accreditation focuses on each organization’s unique mission, resources and culture, as well as the unique needs and aspirations of the people it serves.
The EAP accreditation process, like all of COA’s other accreditation products, is both facilitative and open--COA wants to provide your organization with all the tools it needs to become accredited. COA accreditation is not an adversarial process, but rather a partnership between two organizations committed to achieving the same goal: excellence.
History
After successfully completing one of EASNA’s original charters, the development of an accreditation process for employee assistance programs that promoted compliance with the highest national standards for quality management and service delivery, EASNA investigated transferring this function to an organization that could ensure the quality delivery of a rigorous accreditation process.
In 2001, COA and EASNA released the EAP Standards and Self-Study Manual, 1st Edition – a resource defining the best practice standards in the employee assistance field. EAP’s accredited under this first edition were awarded the EASNA Accreditation as Administered by COA. In 2002, EASNA recognized the merit in having COA become sole custodian of the accreditation process and standards, while EASNA assumed the role of supporting those member organizations seeking accreditation.
Later, in 2002, the standards went through another round of field comment, resulting in COA’s release of the EAP Standards and Self-Study Manual, 2nd Edition—a comprehensive blueprint of best practices in the EAP field, which includes standards for Administration and Management, Management of EAP Human Resources, Health and Safety, Finance, EAP Legal Liability, Contracts for EAP Services, Quality Improvement, Personnel and Affiliate Competence, Staff Supervision and Training, Professional Practice, Service Delivery and Intake, Assessment and Service Planning.
Thus, while EASNA no longer is a direct provider of accreditation services, EASNA continues to actively support accreditation for providers of employee assistance programs. Mentoring services are provided to EASNA members seeking COA accreditation.
Accredited Members
Alliance Employee Assistance
Robert L. Griffith
Chief Human Resources Officer
3200 Burnet Avenue, MOB East 203
Cincinnati, OH 45229
US
513-585-6100
Ceridian Life Works Services
Zachary Meyer
3311 East Old Shakopee Road
Minneapolis MN 55425
US
952-853-3394
Employee Assistance Program-NSA
Paul Clavelle
7272 Park Circle Dr. #170
Hanover MD 21076
US
410-712-4444
Family Services Employee Assistance Programs
Louise Hartley
2 Carlton Street Suite 1005
Toronto ON M5B 1J3
Canada
888-765-8464 x231
Genesis Employee Assistance Program
Mary Hill-Sutherland
4455 E 56th St.
Davenport, IA 52807
US
563-386-4004
Health Canada
Francois Legault
171 Slater St. 9th Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0L3
Canada
613-941-7267
Homewood Employee Health
Fran Pilon
49 Emma St, Ste. 200
Guelph ON N1E 6X1
Canada
800-265-8310 x108
Interlock Employee & Family Assistance Corp. of Canada
Paula Cayley
4727 Hastings St.
Burnaby BC V5C 2K8
Canada
604-431-8200
Magellan Health Services
Toni McClure
14100 Magellan Plaza
Maryland Heights MO 63043
US
314-387-4664
NEAS, Inc.
David Goehner
N17 W24100 Riverwood Dr., Ste. 300
Waukesha WI 53188
US
262-574-2500
Shepell.fgi
Barb Veder
Clinical Director
Regional Clinical Services
225 Metcalfe Street, Suite 308
Ottawa, ON K2P 1P9
613-567-8304