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The Arc of Northern Bristol County has received a Two Year License and Certification with Distinction from the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services Office of Quality Management and Quality Enhancement for Individual Supports and Residential Services.   Two-Year License and Certification with Distinction is the highest accreditation the division awards.

“ I cannot say enough about our outstanding staff and supporters who work tirelessly in providing the highest level of care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Michael Andrade, President /CEO of The Arc of Northern Bristol County.  “We take great pride in providing progressive and individualized services, meeting the needs of each person who seeks our help.  It’s wonderful to have this effort recognized by the State and reaching their highest standards.”

The Department of Developmental Services Office of Quality Management, Office of Quality Enhancement wrote of their assessment of The Arc: “The agency is congratulated for its accomplishment of achieving a Two-Year License and Certification with Distinction.  The organization’s continued commitment to supporting individuals to have rich and full lives through valuing and maintaining highly trained and competent support staff are the key factors in the agency’s remarkable dependability in delivering quality supports.  This sense of commitment to individuals and support staff, combined with the agency’s strong organizational planning, and ongoing oversight of it systems and practices, should continue to provide a strong framework on which the agency can maintain and enrich future supports that are innovative and responsive to the wishes of families and individuals in need of services.”

About The Department of Developmental Services Office of Quality Management, Office of Quality Enhancement:

The Survey and Certification system is the process by which Department of Developmental Services licenses and certifies all public and private providers of community residential, work/day, placement and site based respite services. The tool used to license/certify providers, known as the Quality Enhancement Survey Tool (QUEST) evaluates the impact of a provider’s services on the quality of life of individuals in five key domains and one organizational domain. A random sample of individuals is selected in proportion to the number of individuals served by the provider in discrete service models.