The Accreditation Relationship

Written by Jennifer Abels, Accreditation Director 

Sometimes, when people think about the word “accreditation”, they have feelings of nervousness, or perhaps intimidation (based on a fear of getting caught doing something wrong). 

While I understand those feelings (because I once had them when going through the process myself!), I have also come to understand that the intent and purpose of Inform USA Accreditation is certainly not a fear-based relationship! The Inform USA Accreditation Reviewers and Accreditation Director have all been through the accreditation themselves, so they have empathy for those going through the process. 

First, it is important to understand Inform USA is not a regulatory or enforcement agency. Accreditation is a consultative relationship, not a punitive one. Through this voluntary process, organizations have the opportunity to gain insight from industry experts, who help evaluate if services are in alignment with Inform USA Standards. 

Inform USA envisions organizations connecting communities by providing the highest quality services; going through the accreditation process can help you achieve that.  If areas of improvement are identified during the process, recommendations are provided regarding what would help improve the services.  

We recommend that organizations approach the work with a growth mindset to get the most out of the process. Focusing on the process of learning and improving will help to make the most of this opportunity. 

The Accreditation team is supportive and encouraging. They know that the hard work (and it is hard work!) invested in the process will produce many benefits for the organization, the staff, the funders, and ultimately, the person on the other end of the phone/computer. 

At the end of the process, organizations inevitably state that they have learned so much along the way. Even though an organization might have started with nervousness, they have now reached the point of feeling more confident in the services they are providing, along with gratitude for the accreditation process.