Beginning CARF Standards

In 1957, National Rehabilitation Association sponsored a conference highlighting the need for rehabilitation standards. This led the National Association of Sheltered Workshops and Homebound Programs and the Association of Rehabilitation Centers to develop early standards that later formed the foundation of CARF International standards.

CARF is incorporated

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities was incorporated in Illinois as a nonprofit organization on September 27, 1966. Incorporation papers named nine directors, including one from Canada.

Long-term partners

Two of the first four providers have maintained continuous CARF accreditation.

The Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research is now known as TIRR Memorial Hermann. It has a Three-Year Accreditation from CARF for three medical rehabilitation programs at two Texas locations.

The Vocational Guidance and Rehabilitation Service shortened its name to Vocational Guidance Services. It has a Three-Year Accreditation from CARF for six of its employment services at several Ohio locations.

CARF accredits its first program in Canada, St. Michael’s Hospital, Vancouver

100th Survey

The Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA, marked the 100th site survey of a rehabilitation facility by CARF. Eugene Erickson (center) accepted the Certificate of Accreditation from William Page (left), Chairman of the CARF Board of Trustees, and Alan Toppel (right), CARF’s Program Director.

The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation passed a resolution requiring CARF accreditation of all rehabilitation providers. This was one of the key developments in the history of the Commission. 

A pre-1971 accreditation certificate

A calligrapher hand-penned the provider and program names and each certificate was signed by JCAH Director John D. Porterfield, M.D.

Active Communications

A meeting to discuss rehabilitation’s unique and decisive efforts in program evaluation, standards of performance, and accreditation. (Left to right) Dr. Andrew S. Adams, Commissioner of Rehabilitation Services; Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare [later renamed the Department of Health and Human Services]; Alan H. Toppel, Executive Director of CARF; and Ray R. Seitz, Vice Chairman of the CARF Board of Trustees.

10th Anniversary

CARF celebrated its first 10 years of service and received a special congratulatory letter from U.S. President Gerald Ford commending the organization on this “important milestone for all Americans, and most particularly our disabled citizens. I welcome this opportunity to commend your leadership in this vital field.”

There are more than 850 organizations with accredited programs/services at nearly 1,900 locations.

May

President Jimmy Carter recognized CARF for its significant efforts to upgrade the delivery of rehabilitation services to the nation’s citizens with disabilities.

An Association of Trial Lawyers of America resolution urged state workers’ compensation agencies to require CARF accreditation for rehabilitation organizations serving workers with occupational disabilities.

CARF introduced standards for Infant and Early Childhood Development Programs, Occupational Skill Training, Activity Services, Residential Services, Independent Living Programs, and Psychosocial Programs.

Standards for Brain Injury Programs and Programs in Industry were introduced.

The 1988 Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities included new standards in the areas of Post-Acute Brain Injury Programs and Community Mental Health Programs. In addition, the Commission renewed its emphasis on standards for program evaluation systems that emphasize quality.

Standards for Work Hardening Programs were introduced.

Standards for Supported Employment Programs were introduced.

CARF published separate volumes of standards for its three divisions: Behavioral Health, Employment and Community Support, and Medical Rehabilitation.

CARF purchased its first office building at 4891 E. Grant Road in Tucson, AZ.

CARF published separate volumes of standards for its three divisions: Behavioral Health, Employment and Community Support, and Medical Rehabilitation.

CARF purchased its first office building at 4891 E. Grant Road in Tucson, AZ.

30th Anniversary

CARF published the first edition of the Accreditation Sourcebook.

In the Medical Rehabilitation Division, standards for a new program area, Home- and Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs, went into effect, along with revised standards in the areas of Brain Injury Programs, both Comprehensive Inpatient and Community Integrative, and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation System of Care.

In its 30th year of operation, CARF accredited its first program in Europe.

All the standards were rewritten to be unidimensional, which represented a step in CARF’s initiative in implementing the Standards Conformance Rating System. An Accreditation Condition was added that required an organization to submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) within 90 days following notice of accreditation.

A collaborative partnership began between CARF and the Workers’ Compensation Board in Alberta addressing the quality and value of rehabilitation services delivered to injured workers.

Don Galvin, Ph.D.

CARF President/CEO Don H. Galvin, Ph.D. retired. Don was a tireless champion of independent living and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, providing congressional testimony and presenting at conferences in the U.S. and around the world.

CARF published a standards manual for Assisted Living programs.

35th Anniversary

Standards for Employment and Community Services, Workforce Development Services, and One-Stop Career Centers were introduced. There are more than 3,550 organizations with accredited programs/services at nearly 27,000 locations.

CARF International acquired the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, founded in 1985 by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, expanding its ability to identify high-quality care providers across services ranging from children to older adults.

The public information policy was extended to include all units.

CARF published the Child and Youth Services Standards Manual.

CARF accredited it’s first program in South America in Argentina.

CARF International introduced the ASPIRE to Excellence® quality framework, providing business practice standards that guide organizations in aligning purpose, planning, and operations to achieve desired outcomes.

CARF accredited its first programs in Oceania and the Middle East.

CARF accreditation was recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

CARF Europe was incorporated in London, England, United Kingdom.

CARF accredited its first programs on the African continent.

CARF headquarters office moved to 6951 E. Southpoint Road, Tucson, AZ.

45th Anniversary

CARF logos were rebranded to include the ASPIRE® to Excellence tagline.

There are more than 6,425 organizations with accredited programs/services at over 47,350 locations worldwide.

Brian J. Boon Ph.D.

Under the leadership of Brian J. Boon, CARF International expanded globally with offices in Canada and Europe, broadened accreditation into new human service fields, and strengthened its presence in Washington, D.C. The organization acquired and redesigned the accreditation process for Commission on Accreditation for Case Management (CCAC), streamlined governance, and modernized operations through initiatives such as the eChecklist, uSPEQ, a CRM system, web-based surveyor training, and a balanced scorecard to track growth and customer satisfaction.

CCAC entity and accreditation process fully integrated into CARF. CCAC name as an entity is no longer in use.

New CARF standards address suicide prevention as a public health crisis and convened suicide-prevention experts for an International Standards Advisory Committee. The program standards support the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention’s goal to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20% over the next eight years.

CARF added suicide risk screening to the accreditation standards of Behavioral Health and Opioid Treatment Program.

In its 2019 standards manuals, CARF expanded technology guidelines to address tools such as portals and apps, as well as security measures like firewalls and malware protection, reflecting technology’s growing role in health and human services and consumer access.
CARF developed standards for Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) programs.

The standards were published in the Behavioral Health Standards Manual.

CARF launched a newly redesigned user-centric website at carf.org.

Michael J. Connolly, D.O., joins CARF as its first Chief Medical Officer to provide medical leadership across all accreditation areas.

CARF designed standards for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) based on the SAMHSA criteria and began offering accreditation for CCBHCs.