Yes. Active Care Accreditation is designed to be scalable. Because the model focuses on site-specific fidelity - measured by the Program Checklist and Observation Checklist - the size of your agency does not limit your ability to achieve accreditation. Small agencies often find they can implement these systemic changes more rapidly than larger organizations.

The timeline varies based on your starting point, but most agencies complete the process within 6 to 12 months. This includes credentialing your internal leaders (ACC-1), implementing the 3 Core Skills on the ground, and sustaining the required fidelity scores for a predetermined period to ensure the culture change has taken hold.

Performance is measured through objective, data-driven tools. We use the Observation Checklist to evaluate real-time interactions - such as the frequency of positive interactions and the use of graded assistance. Additionally, the Supervisor Checklist ensures that your leadership team is providing the consistent coaching and feedback necessary to sustain staff skills.

Accreditation is an investment in your agency’s operational quality. Fees are tiered based on the size of service being accredited. This covers the formal site audits, consultant reviews, and inclusion in the Public Registry of Accredited Sites. Ongoing maintenance involves a biennial (every 2 year) renewal fee to verify continued fidelity to the model.

Active Care is not about doing more work; it is about changing how the work is done. While there is an initial learning curve during the training phase, the model is designed to eliminate "unstructured downtime" and "going through the motions." By providing staff with clear roles and predictable schedules, many agencies find that staff stress and burnout actually decrease.

High-performing programs are often the best candidates for accreditation. While struggling agencies use Active Care to build a foundation of engagement, high-performing agencies use it to standardize their excellence. Accreditation provides the objective data and "stamp of approval" needed to prove your quality to families, coordinators, and the community, moving your agency from "good" to "industry-leading."