A History of Service

Volunteers of America is committed to excellence in our developmental disability programs.  We are proud to announce the recent accreditation of three of our local offices including Greater New Orleans, Ohio River Valley and the Dakotas.  The Dakotas received accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership and New Orleans and Ohio River Valley were accredited by CARF.  CARF surveyors noted: 

“Statements of the supported living staff made it clear that choice of the person served guides virtually all of the decisions.”

 “The dedicated staff members bring many years of experience to the organization, which instills confidence in persons served and the community.”

 “One external stakeholder said that the organization accepts and retains persons served who are turned away by other organizations.”

Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans was particularly recognized for retaining their CARF accreditation despite the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on the area.  This dedication to excellence that exceeds local and state regulations is a hallmark of Volunteers of America’s services and we congratulate these affiliates on their success. 

Volunteers of America is proud to tell the story of our staff members in New Orleans who support people with significant disabilities. In the weeks and months following Katrina, many of our direct support staff provided 24-hour assistance to the consumers they served, often living with them under difficult circumstances, helping them rebuild their lives in the city of New Orleans. Partnering with the University of Wisconsin, focus groups were conducted with these direct support professionals which led to the development of a report and a soon-to-be released video.

Titled "Higher Ground," this magazine-like report and the film highlight the dedication and commitment of this often undervalued workforce. ANCOR, the national trade organization for mental developmental disabilities (MRDD) service providers contributed to the development of the video is working with us to distribute these materials as widely as possible, using them to advocate for better wages, benefits and recognition for this valuable workforce.

The report and the video tell the first-hand stories of staff members who are dedicated to the people with disabilities, who made enormous personnel sacrifices to ensure on-going care and who continue to work under extreme pressures as the city strives to recover from this catastrophic disaster.

Volunteers of America Southeast has been accredited by The Council on Quality and Leadership, a nationally recognized leader of quality-of-life organizations who support people with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental illness. After two years of preparation, training and hard work, Volunteers of America Southeast has achieved a two-year accreditation from the Council, recognizing its leadership in the field of disability services. The Council’s accreditation process focuses on ensuring that people with disabilities have meaningful lives, including community inclusion and real connections with friends and family. 

Volunteers of America Southeast provides supports for people with disabilities throughout south Alabama and Georgia and has begun to establish related services in Mississippi. As one of the largest providers of supports for people with mental retardation in Alabama, this accreditation continues to demonstrate our leadership in the field of disability services and our commitment to quality.

For more than three decades, The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), has been at the forefront of the movement to improve the quality of services and supports for people with intellectual disabilities and people with mental illness. CQL accreditation is recognized in the field of disabilities as the premier standard focusing on quality outcomes and real lives for people with disabilities. The CQL outcomes focus on the daily lives of people with disabilities, their inclusion and their opportunities to develop relationships within their communities.