Neu-Life Community Development: Achieves national accreditation

[Milwaukee, WI] [March 26, 2021] – Neu-Life Community Development (Neu-Life) recently achieved national accreditation through the New York-based Council on Accreditation (COA).  Neu-Life provides after school and summer programming for youth ages 4-21. Organizations pursue accreditation to demonstrate the implementation of best practice standards in the field of human services. COA evaluated all aspects of Neu-Life’s programs, services, management, and administration. 

“We are extremely proud and blessed to have Neu-Life working in the 15th aldermanic district,” said Russell W. Stamper II, 15th District Alderman. “Their commitment and outstanding service to the development of our youth is second to none.  I am grateful for their professionalism, creativity and most important, Love for our young people.  A prodigious thank you and Congratulations to Neu-Life and their excellent staff.” 

COA accreditation is an objective, independent, and reliable validation of an agency’s performance. The COA 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 that 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.  

To achieve COA accreditation, Neu-Lifefirst provided written evidence of compliance with the COA standards.  Thereafter, a group of specially trained volunteer Peer Reviewers confirmed adherence to these standards during a series of on-site interviews with stakeholders, staff and youth participants. Based on their findings, COA’s volunteer-based Accreditation Commission voted that Neu-Life had successfully met the criteria for accreditation under the Child and Youth Development Category.  Neu-Life is the first agency in WI to achieve accreditation in this category.   

Founded in 1977, COA 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 COA accreditation or are currently engaged in the process. Presently, COA has a total of 47 service standards that are applicable to over 125 different types of programs. To learn more about COA, please visit www.coanet.org

Neu-Life teaches youth skills and strategies to make better life choices and has been providing services to youth and families in Milwaukee for over twenty years. To learn more about Neu-Life, please visit www.neu-life.org