Rock Hill, S.C. - The Children’s Attention Home has once again achieved expedited reaccreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA), placing the organization among the top 15% of private human service agencies worldwide. This distinction underscores the Home’s unwavering commitment to excellence in care and service delivery.
“While accreditation is a voluntary process for us, we choose it because it pushes us to examine every aspect of our work through the lens of best practice,” shared Tara Burgess, Executive Director of Children’s Attention Home. “It’s not just a stamp of approval—it’s a commitment to continuous growth, accountability, and excellence.”
During the rigorous review process, the Home met every one of more than 250 standards, receiving only two minimal recommendations for improvement, a rare accomplishment that highlights the strength and integrity of its operations. The 18-month process, during which hundreds documents and files were submitted for external review, concluded with a two-day onsite visit by peer reviewers.
“The reviewers confirmed what we already know: our greatest strength is our people,” Burgess continued. “They recognized our Board’s mission-driven leadership and deep expertise. They saw in our staff a team that is not only skilled but profoundly dedicated to helping children heal and thrive.”
Reviewers praised several areas of strength, including:
- Financial Stewardship: Diverse and stable revenue streams managed with integrity and foresight.
- Leadership: A mission-driven Board with deep expertise and strategic vision.
- Staff Excellence: Profound dedication to helping children heal and thrive.
- Care Approach: Trauma-informed, youth-centered services supported by robust Performance & Quality Improvement processes.
- Risk Management: Strong practices ensuring safety and compliance.
- Training & Supervision: Exceptional standards for staff development.
- Residential Environment: Warm, intentional cottages that set a high standard for group living and truly feel like home.
COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The accreditation process involves a detailed review and analysis of an organization’s administration, management, and service delivery functions against international standards of best practice. The standards driving accreditation ensure services are well-coordinated, culturally competent, evidence-based, outcomes-oriented, and provided by a skilled and supported workforce. COA Accreditation demonstrates accountability in the management of resources, sets standardized best practice thresholds for service and administration, and increases organizational capacity and accountability by creating a framework for ongoing quality improvement.
“Reaccreditation is not a finish line—it’s a milestone on a journey we walk together,” Burgess concluded. “With your partnership, we are building on this foundation as we look ahead to our capital campaign and the addition of two new houses by fall 2026. Your belief in our mission makes this achievement possible.”
About Children’s Attention Home
Children’s Attention Home has provided nurturing care and life-changing services for over 9,000 children since 1970. Nationally accredited, the Home provides comprehensive, compassionate care and individualized support to youth up to 21 in foster care and young adults ages 17 to 20 experiencing homelessness. For more information, visit attentionhome.org or call 803-328-8871.
About Social Current or Council on Accreditation
COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, is an independent, not-for-profit accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations in the United States and Canada. Over 2,000 organizations — voluntary, public, and proprietary; local and statewide; large and small — have either successfully achieved accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. To learn more about COA Accreditation, visit https://www.social-current.org.