November 1973

CARF published a new section of the standards manual for Rehabilitation Facilities, specifically identifying program evaluation standards. These standards became a springboard for extensive future activities by CARF in program evaluation.

November 1974

Goodwill Industries of America moved to terminate its longstanding and exemplary efforts in standards setting and accreditation and recognized CARF as the accrediting organization for all Goodwill organizations.

January 1986

Standards for two new program areas were published in the 1986 Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People With Disabilities. The new program areas were Respite Programs and Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Treatment Programs.

January 1988

The 1988 Standards Manual for Organizations Serving People With Disabilities included new standards in the areas of Post-Acute Brain Injury Programs and Community Mental Health Programs. In addition, the Commission renewed its emphasis on standards for program evaluation systems that emphasize quality.

January 1995

CARF published a separate volume of its 1995 Standards Manual and Interpretive Guidelines for each of its divisions -- Behavioral Health, Employment and Community Support, and Medical Rehabilitation.

July 1995

New standards in the areas of Occupational Rehabilitation Programs and Comprehensive Pain Management Programs went into effect in the Medical Rehabilitation Division.

January 1996

CARF published the first edition of the Accreditation Sourcebook.

July 1996

In the Medical Rehabilitation Division, standards for a new program area, Home- and Community-Based Rehabilitation Programs, went into effect, along with revised standards in the areas of Brain Injury Programs, both Comprehensive Inpatient and Community Integrative, and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation System of Care.

July 1997

New standards in the areas of Health Enhancement Programs and Pediatric Family-Centered Rehabilitation Programs went into effect in the Medical Rehabilitation Division.

July 1998

All the standards were rewritten to be unidimensional, which represented a step in CARF's initiative in implementing the Standards Conformance Rating System.

The Accreditation Principles and the Accreditation Criteria were removed as separate sections in the manuals and incorporated into the standards. An Accreditation Condition was added that required an organization to submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) within 90 days following notice of accreditation. CARF ceased offering a Twelve-Month Abeyance to organizations that fell short of a One-Year Accreditation on their first survey.

January 1999

CARF published standards manuals for Adult Day Services programs and also the Veterans Health Administration Comprehensive Blind Rehabilitation Services.

July 1999

CARF began accrediting networks in Behavioral Health and Employment and Community Services fields through its Network Administration standards.

The practice of disclosing information to the public regarding an organization's survey report, which previously applied only to organizations surveyed with the Medical Rehabilitation Standards Manual, was extended to organizations surveyed with the Behavioral Health Standards Manual and the Adult Day Services Standards Manual.

February 2000

CARF published a standards manual for Assisted Living programs.

July 2001

In the Employment and Community Services Division, standards for a new service area, Workforce Development Services, went into effect. Standards were published for One-Stop Career Centers.

January 2005

CARF published the Child and Youth Services Standards Manual from a compilation of existing standards already in use. Areas highlighted include Child- and Family-Centered Care, Transition Support Services, Early Childhood Development, Behavioral Consultation, Child/Youth Day Care, Support and Facilitation, Child/Youth Protection, Congregate and Group Home Care, and Legal Permanency.

January 2006

CARF published the Aging Services Standards Manual with Survey Preparation Questions for providers with Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Aging Services Networks, Adult Day Services, Assisted Living, or Stroke Specialty Programs. New program standards were developed for this manual for Person-Centered Long-Term Care Community. Stroke Specialty Programs standards were also implemented for Medical Rehabilitation providers.

August 2006

Standards for Dementia Care were published for application to this special population in many settings, including adult day services, assisted living residences, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities.

September 2006

CARF celebrated its 40th anniversary of accreditation services in the human service field. City of Tucson Mayor Walkup presented a plaque to the company.

January 2007

The Comprehensive Blind Rehabilitation Services Standards Manual was updated and republished as the Vision Rehabilitation Services Standards Manual with two programs, Comprehensive Blind Rehabilitation Services and Comprehensive Vision Rehabilitation Services.

February 2007

CARF began accrediting suppliers of certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). CARF's entry into this accreditation area followed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) approval of CARF as a national deeming authority for DMEPOS suppliers.

April 2007

uSPEQ® released the Consumer Experience Survey -- a turnkey data collection and reporting system designed to assist organizations with performance improvement.

June 2007

CARF launched its extranet Customer Connect (customerconnect.carf.org).

October 2007

Link: http://www.carf.org/About/History/