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Council on Accreditation Employee Assistance Program Accreditation Standards (2nd Edition)
This Appendix provides an excerpt from the Council on Accreditationâs Employee Assistance Programs Standards and Self-Study Manual, 2nd Edition. For a full text version of the Manual, including Evidence of Compliance for the standards, please contact COA at 866.262.8088.
I. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
I.1.01 The EAP complies with all applicable federal, state or provincial, and local laws and regulations.
I.1.02 The EAP does not possess any outstanding work orders, notices of violation, or negative directives from any governmental or quasi-regulatory body.
I.1.03 The EAP complies with all self-reporting requirements associated with licensure, accreditation, and/or other appropriate external review bodies.
I.2.01 The external EAP or the internal EAPâs host organization is legally authorized to operate as one of the following:
a. a for-profit organization that is organized as a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or association, and has a duly promulgated charter, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement, articles of association, constitution, and/or bylaws;
b. a not-for-profit organization that is organized as an identified sub-unit of another legal entity recognized under state or provincial law; or
c. a not-for-profit organization that is incorporated in the state or province in which it operates or is headquartered, and has a duly promulgated charter, constitution, and/or bylaws with its own board of directors.
I.2.02 The EAPâs charter or constitution provides that disposition of assets upon dissolution of the corporation shall be in keeping with the purpose of the EAP and comply with applicable legal and contractual requirements.
Interpretation (I.3):
Please note that a board of directors/trustees acts as the governing body or âownersâ of a not-for-profit EAP. In a for-profit EAP, the governing body or âownersâ are the EAPâs shareholders. Please apply the appropriate perspective when completing these standards.
I.3.01 The EAP maintains one or more bodies, such as a board of directors/trustees, or advisory board, that regularly advise the EAP on its policies, management, planning, finances, use of resources, and service delivery.
Interpretation (I.3.01):
Most privately-held for-profit organizations demonstrate compliance with this standard by establishing an advisory board. Not-for-profit or publicly traded for-profit organizations will often demonstrate compliance through a board of directors/trustees.
I.3.02 The board of directors is sufficient in size and structure to:
a. engage in long-term planning;
b. develop and adopt policy;
c. develop resources; and
d. provide financial oversight.
Interpretation (I.3.02):
A large organization is likely to have an elaborate committee or task force structure to accomplish these goals, whereas a small organization may not require such a framework. As long as the EAP can demonstrate that the board of directors carries out its responsibilities effectively and thoroughly through regular meetings and clear responsibilities, compliance will be achieved.
I.3.03 The bylaws, constitution, or similar legal document of the publicly traded or not-for-profit EAP is reviewed every four years and establishes:
a the structure, size, and responsibilities of the board of directors;
b. the minimum number of board of directorsâ meetings and quorum requirements;
c. the body to which the board of directors delegates interim authority; and
d. a process for assessing and implementing board responsibilities, such as establishing task forces/committees, and respective responsibilities and composition.
I.3.04 The documents listed in I.3.03 also set forth t...
