Get Involved

Call for Virtual Presenters

About This Series – FOCUS Accreditation is a non-profit organization supporting quality improvement across the human services sector. Our Community of Practice Series brings together leaders from our growing network of accredited and aspiring organizations for focused, practical learning. We are inviting experienced consultants to present within this learning series.

What We’re Looking For – You are an expert consultant, coach, or advisor to the non-profit sector. We are not asking you to build something new. Instead, we are asking you to share what you already know by way of presentation, framework, or workshop you have delivered before, and it connects to key areas such as HR planning, risk management, IT strategy, DEI and equity frameworks, leadership, strategy, or organizational best practices. This series is an opportunity to bring your expertise in front of a new room of qualified, engaged nonprofit professionals eager to learn and grow.

How to Apply –  FOCUS is a non-profit, values-driven organization, and we are proud to build learning opportunities that strengthen the sector. We look forward to hearing from you.

To express interest, read the FOCUS_Call for Virtual Presenters_CoP Series requirements and email Cheryl Whiteman, Executive Director at [email protected]

Community Involvement

The community is our compass, and has charted FOCUS’ direction since our inception in 2004. We continue to develop and maintain strong community involvement, and we encourage you to get involved in FOCUS’ activities by taking part as a:

• Board Member
• Accreditation Committee Member (must have experience working with the FOCUS Standards and not associated with a current registered or accredited organization)
• Survey Respondent
• Focus Group Participant
• Special Projects Consultant

Giving Input

We encourage people who use and work in services to share their views in a number of ways, including sitting on committees (when there are openings), responding to surveys and taking part in focus groups. For more information about how to get involved, contact us. We will be happy to hear from you.

Accreditation Committee

The FOCUS Accreditation Committee ensures the integrity of our Quality Improvement and Accreditation Program. The volunteer committee members are professionals with vast knowledge and experience in the sectors in which FOCUS client organizations provide services. Committee members have no direct affiliation with any one organization, and their professional backgrounds differ – some are adult educators, consultants, retired executive directors and Ministry employees, board members, and more.

Three members form an ad-hoc committee for each organization that has completed the validation component. These committee members review the organization’s accreditation report, meet via teleconference, review the findings in the report, conduct a question and answer session with the Lead Accreditor who led the process, and provide the final decision as to the level of accreditation awarded: a 4 year, deferred or non-accreditation.

To inquire into membership, please fill in the contact form indicating your interest.

“Being involved on the Accreditation Committee has given me much greater insight into the whole process of accreditation and a new appreciation of how much work is involved in becoming accredited and how committed the individual organizations are to continuing to improve their services. Participating on this committee would be the perfect introduction to FOCUS as an organization and the process of accreditation.”