Accreditation and Organizational Development
Posted by: CQL on 12/29/2006
Filed under: Wisconsin
Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.
The Situation
Bethesda, headquartered in Watertown, Wisconsin, with services and supports in 10 states, uses CQL Accreditation to ensure the people who receive services from its organization are receiving the highest quality services and supports.
In June 2006, Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services announced the expansion of the organization to several western states through the addition of Good Shepherd Communities (GSC), headquartered in Orange County, Calif. Good Shepherd Communities provides support services to people with developmental disabilities in 24 cities throughout California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado and employs more than 1100 people. Under the terms of the agreement, GSC will become a wholly controlled subsidiary of Bethesda, and the move will dramatically expand the scope of the Watertown-based organization.
What CQL Did
CQL accredits Bethesda service provider agencies in Wisconsin and Indiana.
CQL staff facilitated a strategic planning retreat for leadership staff from both Bethesda and Good Shepherd. The session focused on shared values and planning for organizational development as the two organizations from into a single operating entity.
“Bethesda has always provided high quality services for people with developmental disabilities. [CQL]’s accreditation process ensures that we continue to focus on the individual and listen to what they have to say about the type of support they receive. The entire process took a lot of dedication and a lot of time, but staff members’ approach to this process has been wonderful. Their objective has always been to enrich the lives of the individuals they serve, and to provide the services needed to do just that. The implementation at Bethesda, as a result of the accreditation process, creates more personal choices for the individuals, and gives them the ability to direct their services. As a result, there are more opportunities for them to live out their dreams and their visions for their life.”
Shonn Patrick Foy, Bethesda’s Northeast Region Administrator