Hillsides Education Center Begins Accreditation Process

School is out for the summer. Tuesday was the last day of classes for students enrolled in our summer school program at Hillsides Education Center. You could feel the relief of both students and staff as they look forward to a less structured remainder of the summer. Teachers are able to take some time off and get reinvigorated for the school year start at the end of August. Students are anticipating more leisurely mornings and various recreational activities both on and off campus that will allow them a break from school work while keeping them never-the-less engaged and ready for the new school year.

HEC is such an extraordinary school, not just because of the array of services it offers students, the high instructor to student ratio, the individualized approach it provides or excellent facilities. More than anything else, HEC provides an approach that regards each student as capable of success and a universally dedicated staff committed to academic achievement for all its students. Just the other day, touring the school with a local school psychologist, he noted that the environment we are able to maintain within the school is marketedly different from other similar schools. We are convinced that our approach and commitment is what helps HEC stand out and be a school of choice for many parents and referring school districts.

As part of an on-going effort throughout all our programs to achieve national accreditation, HEC embarked this year in preparing to be accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges, WASC, the premier accrediting body for schools.

The challenges are great since HEC does not present as a typical school, but in spite of this, preparations were made and a group of reviewers spent a few days here recently to determine HEC’s appropriateness as a candidate for WASC accreditation. Last week we received word that HEC had successfully completed this first phase in the process and is officially designated as a candidate for WASC accreditation. This is the next step in a three-year process that hopefully will culminate in accreditation.

This is such a wonderful validation of the great work provided by HEC and certainly an opportunity for us to congratulate Jay Bechtol, HEC director, and all the staff for their fine work.

As you know the public education system in California is woefully underfunded; it is a struggle for our referring school districts to meet the cost of tuition. But the sacrifice is worth it, for the success that our students enjoy today places them on the path of even greater opportunities.

Join us in congratulating HEC for achieving this level of recognition by WASC and help us by your generous support to maintain this important service that we offer to Hillsides residents and community students alike. 

A Culture of Quality Care

I’ve mentioned in the blog before that Hillsides is seeking a national accreditation with the Council on Accreditation in New York. Although we are currently accredited by the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, a decision was made last year to pursue a national accreditation to better position Hillsides in an increasingly competitive and demanding environment. Although we have been preparing for the accreditation for several months, we have now begun a yearlong process that hopefully with culminate with our accreditation, just in time for our centennial celebration.

As part of the accreditation process, our efforts to continuously address improving the quality of care has been strengthened. A specific committee has been charged with reviewing all our efforts to assure quality services. A  Board committee will review these efforts, which engages not only all levels of staff, but will also solicit input from our many beneficiaries. More than anything else, what we want to reinforce is a culture that values the finest care for the most vulnerable.

In a previous era, it was satisfactory to talk about the good that was being done and point anecdotally to the impact that was made. Today, that is just not good enough--not good enough for those we serve and not good enough for us as an organization if we strive to be a provider of choice.

Hillsides has every reason to be proud of the quality of care it provides the children, youth and families we serve. But like any other organization, it is easy to be satisfied with what we have done or what we are doing without necessarily taking a critical look at how services are delivered and what the true impact is as a result of the care that has been received.

Some argue that it is difficult to measure the impact; there are too many variables out of our control that influence the outcome. Although that may be the case, it is still not an excuse for us to maintain a critical eye on what we do to assure that all we do is the best. Providing quality care is the greatest tool we have to counter those unforeseen variables that impact the lives of those we serve. In doing so, we can influence the outcome.

As I often say, we can never do enough for those we serve. So it is with that desire that we embark on this process with every hope that it will strengthen us as an organization. Further, cultivating this culture of quality care will enable us to fulfill much more effectively our mission of providing a safe “place” for all we serve.