HORIZONS UNLIMITED AWARDED THREE-YEAR CARF ACCREDITATION

CARF International announced October 27, 2008, that Horizons Unlimited of Palo Alto County, Inc. has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Integration and Organizational Employment Services programs.  This represents the 25th consecutive year since Horizons Unlimited of Palo Alto County, Inc. will be accredited by the international accrediting body.

According to CARF, this accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable.

Chief Executive Officer Ed Hannagan said, “The individuals we serve and stakeholders will benefit knowing that Horizons meets and/or exceeds the national and international rehabilitation standards.  I’m very proud and honored to work with so many talented and skilled staff who have worked hard to receive this accreditation.”

Horizons Unlimited is a non-profit organization with offices at 3826 460th Ave., Highway 4 South, Emmetsburg.  Horizons has been providing Vocational, Residential and Day Rehabilitation Services in the Emmetsburg and surrounding areas since 1969.

CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services.

Horizons’ mission statement is “Pursuing a Better Quality of Life for People.”  Horizons currently serves nearly 90 adults with developmental, mental and/or physical disabilities. For more information about Horizons Unlimited, please contact CEO Ed Hannagan at 712-852-2211 or visit Horizons’ website at www.horizons-unlimited.org .

HORIZONS UNLIMITED MEETS REQUIREMENTS AGAIN FOR OSHA VPP STAR SITE

“KNOCK! KNOCK! It’s OSHA!”

It’s a fear that every company has that OSHA (Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration) might just show up one day at your door for a surprise inspection. Horizons Unlimited does not have to worry about this as long as they remain an OSHA VPP Star Site and do not have a serious accident.

Horizons Unlimited has been a VPP Star site since 1998. Horizons is one of only 34 VPP sites in Iowa and it is the only facility of its kind in the United States to achieve this top safety and health award from the state.

Becoming a VPP Star Site means that Horizons Unlimited has gone above and beyond the requirements set by OSHA to be a safe and healthy work place. There are 19 elements that must be applied and followed to become and remain a VPP Star Site. VPP requires that all staff be involved in safety.

Horizons Unlimited has to have a complete inspection every five years in order to keep their superior safety status. Horizons recently completed their rigorous inspection with OSHA June 19 –21, 2007. While in Emmetsburg for the audit, several other Emmetsburg companies took advantage of an invitation from Horizons to come visit with the inspectors about “what it takes” to become a VPP Star Site. OSHA found nothing out of compliance at Horizons Unlimited when they finished their inspection.

In addition to having an inspection every five years, Horizons Unlimited also has to prepare and send an OSHA Consultation Report every year. This report describes how they have met the 19 elements, and explains any changes they have made in their policy and procedures that will improve safety and health for all staff and clients.

In May of 2007, Horizons Unlimited hosted two OSHA trainings on “Walking/Working Surfaces.” The trainings were well received with 100 people in attendance. All Horizons Unlimited staff were required to attend.

Horizons Unlimited would like to thank all employees at Horizons for their hard work in preparing for the audit. A special thank you also goes to Deb Hughes who supervised the audit preparation and Larry Bruellman from Ottosen who donated countless hours of his time in helping Horizons Unlimited prepare for the audit.

For more information about becoming a VPP Star Site, please contact Safety Director, Marvella Wickman at Horizons Unlimited, 712-852-2211, or OSHA at 515-281-3124.