Quality across the lifespan®
Annually we accredit thousands of health and human service programs across the continuum of care—from children to seniors—and in a variety of settings, environments, and specialty options. The programs and services we accredit are organized into a standards manual for each of the areas below.
Areas of accreditation
Aging Services (AS)
Senior living/residential programs and home and community-based services to meet the health and personal care needs of persons over 60 years of age.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
CCRCs (life plan communities) offer multiple levels of care and are designed to foster a culture of independence, safety, and community for older adults.
Behavioral Health (BH)
Programs for integrated behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorders/addictions, psychosocial rehabilitation, and family services.
Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP)
Programs that provide medication-assisted treatment for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder.
Child and Youth Services (CYS)
Programs/services for children and youth (from birth through young adulthood) in the areas of child welfare, behavioral health, and healthy development.
Employment and Community Services (ECS)
Programs/services that provide employment and life skill development and support for persons to live and work as independently as possible.
Medical Rehabilitation (MED)
Programs/services to enhance or restore the functional ability and quality of life for a person who has been disabled from a disease, disorder, or injury.
Vision Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
Programs/services to maximize function, independence, and community involvement for persons who are Blind or have low vision.
Additional information
Education and training
Details about our training opportunities and educational webinars.
CARF Connection blog
Learn about current trends, improving services, and the latest CARF news.
Get the standards
Purchase standards manuals and accompanying publications to prepare for accreditation.
Suicide — a global public health issue
Go to our suicide prevention page for resources and to learn about CARF’s involvement in bringing awareness to the issue.
We’re here to help!
No matter where you are in your accreditation journey, we are here to answer your questions and provide assistance.