The Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres (CKCHC) have been awarded a four-year accreditation by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA).
The CKCHC proudly released a statement to celebrate, saying “the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of our staff and Board of Directors are clearly reflected in this significant achievement.”
“To be CCA Accredited is truly a seal of approval,” says Steven Brown, CKCHC’s Board Chair. “Our stakeholders can be assured that we have undergone an extensive internal and external review process that measures our practices against sector and industry standards.”
Accreditation is a process that provides assurance from a respected third-party that the accredited organization meets commonly accepted standards for good governance, management, and excellence in service provision.

This is one way the CKCHC says they demonstrate to our clients, funders and community that we are operating responsibly and providing responsive and quality services.

“One of the key benefits of participating in CCA’s accreditation program is that it promotes an ongoing culture of learning and quality improvement throughout the organization,” says Barbara Wiktorowicz, Executive Director, Canadian Centre for Accreditation. “By choosing to go through the CCA accreditation process, CKCHC is demonstrating its accountability to the community and its commitment to providing the highest quality programs and services.”

“Our board of directors sees accreditation as a way to externally monitor our organization,” says Sherri Saunders, Executive Director, CKCHC. “Being CCA Accredited allows us to demonstrate our accomplishments at not only an operational level but also in our business management and community governance. With increasing pressure for public accountability, participation in the accreditation process promotes a quality and safety culture across the organization.”
“The accreditation review process has truly been a full team effort,” says Heather Carnahan, Director of Clinic and Client Services, CKCHC. “Led by a group of employee volunteers that made up our Accreditation Committee, every employee, client advisory member and board member has played a role in our success. It has been is such a rewarding process to have some many individuals working together to achieve this monumental goal.”
The CKCHC says they are very proud to have achieved this milestone and to have been the first organization to do so virtually. The organization has been working towards accreditation for a couple years and are grateful to still be able to continue with the process, and achieve accreditation during the pandemic.
The Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres are a non-profit, community governed, multi-service health centres that provide primary health care, health promotion and community development services all under one roof. The CKCHC is mandated to serve the vulnerable popuations and the Chatham-Kent community at large. The CKCHC works together with clients and community partners to provide the best possible health and wellbeing for those they serve.