Accreditation Services
Achieving accreditation is one of the most powerful steps a behavioral health facility can take to demonstrate quality, safety, and commitment to excellence. Whether you’re preparing for The Joint Commission (JACHO), CARF, or a state-mandated pre-accreditation process, Atlantic Health Strategies provides expert guidance every step of the way.
Our seasoned team has helped dozens of mental health and substance use disorder providers navigate the complex accreditation process – from compliance software implementation to policy preparation and compliance reviews to mock surveys and on-site readiness. With our support, your organization can confidently meet national and state standards while building a strong foundation for sustainable growth and payer confidence.
Accreditation isn’t just a seal on the wall – it’s a symbol of trust, professionalism, and clinical integrity. Let Atlantic Health Strategies help you get there faster, smarter, and with fewer headaches.
Joint Commission Accreditation Assistance
Raise the Standard of Care with Confidence.
We help behavioral health and addiction treatment providers navigate every step of The Joint Commission accreditation process — from policy creation to mock surveys and post-survey support. Our consultants ensure your operations meet the rigorous performance standards that drive safer, more effective, and more accountable care.
Whether you’re a startup pursuing the Early Survey Option or an established provider preparing for your Full Survey, our support is designed to reduce stress, save time, and align your team with a culture of excellence.
Key Services:
Standards Interpretation
Policies and Procedures
Mock Surveys
Ongoing Maintenance
CARF Accreditation Support
Achieve Excellence with CARF — We’ll Help You Get There.
CARF accreditation proves your commitment to delivering person-centered, measurable, and accountable services. At Atlantic Health Strategies, we help behavioral health and substance use treatment providers prepare for CARF accreditation with precision and confidence.
Our expert team supports you in interpreting CARF’s Behavioral Health standards, optimizing service delivery, and documenting quality improvement processes that meet CARF’s rigorous benchmarks.
Whether you’re seeking initial accreditation or preparing for renewal, we guide your team every step of the way — ensuring you’re not just survey-ready, but future-ready.
- Gap Assessments & Roadmap Development
- Policy & Procedure Drafting/Refinement
- Staff Training on CARF Standards
- Mock Surveys with Action Plans
- Program-Specific Support for ASAM, MAT, and Mental Health Services
Early Survey Option Guidance
Set the Stage for Success Before You Open Your Doors
Launching a new behavioral health organization? The Joint Commission’s Early Survey Option is designed specifically for providers who are not yet delivering care but want to meet accreditation standards from day one.
Atlantic Health Strategies supports startups and new providers through this unique two-step process — preparing you for both the Initial Survey (focused on policies and documentation) and the Follow-Up Survey once you begin providing services. This accreditation path builds credibility with payers and regulators, and lays the foundation for long-term clinical and operational success.
Our team helps you hit the ground running — not scrambling — with accreditation-aligned systems and a confident survey strategy.
We’ll help you develop the required policies and plans, including your Quality & Safety Plan, Emergency Management Plan, Infection Control Plan, and staff orientation documents — even before your first patient walks through the door.
Once care begins, we’ll help you track and compile the required documentation and data needed to pass the second, full standards survey.
Our team will also implement and manage user-friendly compliance software to monitor key indicators like chart completion, incident reporting, and staff training — giving you real-time visibility into your readiness.
We ensure your documentation meets Joint Commission formatting, policy, and compliance expectations — including consents, intake paperwork, progress notes, risk assessments, and discharge plans.
As part of our support, we’ll also configure your compliance platform to standardize documentation workflows, track policy updates, and house audit-ready materials — all in one centralized system.
We create a roadmap tailored to your operational launch date and licensing requirements, so your survey happens at the right time — without unnecessary delays or missed opportunities.
Full Survey Option Support
Be Ready When They Arrive — Every Standard. Every Policy. Every Team Member.
The Joint Commission’s unannounced full survey process is rigorous — but with Atlantic Health Strategies as your accreditation partner, your team will face it with clarity and confidence. We support behavioral health and addiction treatment providers in meeting TJC’s Behavioral Health Care standards through a structured, data-driven approach that minimizes risk and maximizes compliance.
Our expert consultants provide start-to-finish support, including on-site survey coaching, staff interview prep, and documentation review. We don’t just prep you — we walk with you through it.
- Initial Readiness Assessment
- Mock Survey & Gap Closure Plan
- Staff Survey Prep & Documentation Review
- On-Site Survey Support
- Post-Survey Plan of Correction
State-Specific Pre-Accreditation Services
Licensure-Linked Accreditation Starts Here
Some states require behavioral health providers to obtain national accreditation before or alongside licensure. Atlantic Health Strategies provides targeted support in states like Maryland and Ohio, where accreditation isn’t just best practice — it’s a regulatory requirement.
Our experts will ensure your policies, procedures, and infrastructure align with both national standards and state-specific regulations, helping you launch services faster, with confidence.
Accreditation Support for Maryland Behavioral Health Licensure
Providers in Maryland must demonstrate national accreditation as part of their licensing process under COMAR 10.63. Atlantic Health Strategies supports startups and existing providers through the full accreditation lifecycle, aligned with Maryland Department of Health (MDH) expectations.
Our Maryland services include:
🞂 COMAR policy alignment
🞂 Program-specific licensing guidance (SUD, MH, PRP, etc.)
🞂 Joint Commission or CARF preparation
🞂 Compliance software setup & document readiness
🞂 Audit and mock survey walkthroughs
📎 We also complete full licensure applications and ensure all regional expectations are met.
OhioMHAS Accreditation-Linked Certification
In Ohio, community behavioral health providers must be nationally accredited to qualify for certification from OhioMHAS. Atlantic Health Strategies specializes in preparing providers to meet the standards of The Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, ensuring alignment with state mandates.
Our Ohio services include:
🞂 Crosswalk analysis between accreditor and OhioMHAS
🞂 Joint Commission/CARF documentation prep
🞂 Clinical policy and procedure development
🞂 Staff training and survey preparation
🞂 OhioMHAS application support + liaison with your regional reviewer
📎 Our team monitors OhioMHAS updates and maintains direct relationships with regional reviewers across the state.
Why Choose Atlantic Health Strategies?
Experience. Precision. Results.
At Atlantic Health Strategies, we don’t just help providers meet accreditation requirements — we empower them to thrive. Our team includes former executives, clinicians, and surveyors with decades of real-world experience guiding behavioral health and addiction treatment providers through successful Joint Commission, CARF, and state accreditation.
Whether you’re a startup in Maryland or a multi-site provider preparing for your full survey, we tailor our approach to your goals, your team, and your timeline — and we’ve done it successfully for programs across the country.