CHOICE, unlimited awarded three-year CARF accreditation

Duluth, MN — July14, 2009 — CARF International announced that CHOICE, unlimited has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Employment Services: Job Development, Job Supports, Job-Site Training; Employee Development Services; Employment Planning Services; and Community Services: Community Integration. The latest accreditation is the fifth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body has awarded to CHOICE, unlimited.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.

CHOICE, unlimited is a nonprofit organization with offices at 1829 East Superior St. It has been providing Employment and Community Support Services in the Duluth and surrounding area since 1993.

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 that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

CHOICE, unlimited is awarded Lake Superior Initiative Grant!

The Lake Superior Initiative, in partnership with the United Way, is a federally funded program designed to help community-based organizations manage their programs more effectively. CHOICE, unlimited was awarded over $9,000 toward capacity building. Capacity building is the development of an organization’s leadership, fundraising, management, and program evaluation skills. CHOICE will work with Organizational Consultant Jackie Moen to create an updated 3-year strategic plan. The strategic planning process involves setting a direction for the future including identifying annual objectives and milestones to implement and monitor. CHOICE will also work with Patty Carter, a Grant and Revenue consultant from BuildWrite, Inc. Ms. Carter will help create a long-term fundraising and development plan to support the ARTS programs. The staff and management at CHOICE, unlimited are grateful for the opportunity to secure organizational longevity and fundraising security for years to come. Thank you!

Tina Higgins (Grant Writer), Mary Braun Kapsner (Board President), Simeona Nygren (Executive Director), Cameron Kruger (Training and Technical Assistant Program Manager for LSI), DeeAnn Trotta (Education Coordinator).