QESST Best Practices | Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness

WHAT IS QESST?

The concept of enhancement of standards for services to the homeless has long been a focus of the mission of Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness, Inc. It is envisioned that every homeless individual should receive a level of care that offers a maximized opportunity for self-sufficiency. It is this opportunity to succeed that is maximized through the accreditation process of Quality Enhancement Standards & Support Training (QESST).Participation in QESST is voluntary although some funders may require a QESST accreditation to comply with their funding regulations.

Participant organizations receive training prior to implementation of the program.

The QESST program consists of a series of evaluations.

Self assessment
Peer site visit
Client Surveys

The participant organization receives: recommendations on how to enhance services.

Additional technical assistance and training where needed to build or enhance organizational capacity.

Accreditation is granted when the participant organization meets 90% of the standards.

Movement towards self-sufficiency requires intervention through the offering of quality programs in addition to providing for the survival needs of homeless women, children, and men. Therefore, Quality Enhancement Standards & Support Training is being offered in the areas of administration, fiscal management, personnel, program operations and procedures, medical, food service, safety, and environment. It is the assurance of basic health and safety needs, coupled with ethical and quality programming that creates the strongest opportunity to succeed.

Benefits of QESST Accreditation

Opportunity to Strengthen Organizational Capacity
Acknowledged as one of Georgia’s Best Practices Program
Organizations are presented with a plaque to display in office/organization
Organizational Development Technical Assistance and Training Opportunities
Discounted GCEH Membership
Additional Discounted GCEH Registration Fees (Conferences and Training)
No cost for Continuing Education Units when offered
QESST Accredited Organizations will be allowed access to the QESST Logo for use on stationary and website
Organization will be noted on GCEH Website
Opportunity to Serve on GCEH Peer Review Teams
GCEH Volunteer and Donation Referral Organization
Partnering Opportunities
When a QESST Accredited Organization remains current on Organizational Assessments and Peer Review Site Visits; Annual Reviews; and there are no significant changes or program expansions… subsequent year accreditations will be discounted up to 25%.

To be notified of upcoming QESST trainings, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

QESST CONTACT
For more information:
Tom Plamann
770-575-5785 x 102
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QESST In The News

May 2009 - NBC WLTZ Columbus, GA -Open Door Community House Receives QESST Accreditation

Organizations that are QESST Accredited - Best Practice Organizations of Georgia:

Atlanta Childrens Center
Augusta Task Force
LAMP, Inc.
Homeless Resource Network
Nicholas House
Crossroads Community Ministries, Inc.
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless
Georgia Legal Services
Wesley Community Centers
Union Mission, Inc. - Savannah
SAFE Shelter
Open Door Community House, Inc.
Park Place Outreach
Inner City Night Shelter
EOA Tom Austin House
Recovery Place Inc.
Salvation Army- Savannah
Salvation Army - Metro Atlanta Red Shield Services
America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Inc.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
Social Apostolate
Fair Housing Council
Emmaus House/United Ministries
MedBank, Inc.
Greenbriar Childrens Center
The Gateway Center - Atlanta
Savannah Health Mission
Hope House of Savannah, Inc.
Housing Authority of Savannah
Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc.
Sullivan Center
St Joseph's Mercy Care Services
Georgia Law Center for the Homeless
Rainbow Village
The Drake House
HomeStretch- Housing Initiative of North Fulton
Clifton Sanctuary Ministries
Zion Hill Community Development Corporation
Jefferson Place Transitional House / Fulton County Human Services

Organizations in the process of accreditation:

Coastal Area Support Team, Inc.
Community Service Center
Zion Keepers, Inc.
Atlanta Union Mission
Action Ministries (URBAN)
Aniz, Inc.
True Holiness Evangelical & Apostolic Ministries
Community Concerns, Inc., Odyssey III
Hope Through Devine Intervention, Inc.
Omega's House
The STOP Ministries
Regina Mundi, Inc.
Metro Project Hope

QESST Organization Testimonials

The Salvation Army - Red Shield Services - Atlanta

Last year we underwent the certification process. It was nice to have standards set by an outside agency to compare our services with. We found areas we needed to standardize as well as known policies that needed official documentation. The certification process and successful completion has helped motivate our staff. They are better able to see the expectations of stakeholders as well as their own accomplishments. We do use the fact that we are certified in our funding requests. Although we have always strived to provide quality services, now we can match our claims with this accomplishment.

Janeane Schmidt – Director

The Drake House - Roswell

The QESST certification from the Georgia Alliance To End Homelessness empowers The Drake House with the professional credentials that portray our organization as a competent, professional organization that sets, maintains and operates to a high set of standards. This certification creates an environment that allows The Drake House to leverage resources more efficiently and more effectively. By assuring our donor support base that we are good stewards of their support, we can generate the resources necessary to complete our mission. One significant step in this reassurance process is the credibility of a professional responsible organization that is created by the QESST certification. Financial donors whether they be individual faith based corporate or foundation have greater confidence in The Drake House because of the credibility attached to this certification. Volunteers who offer their time and talents know easily that we offer a safe and professional environment.

John E. Smith III - Executive Director

Crossroads Community Ministries - Atlanta

Like most homeless providers Crossroads was committed to its mission and had never slowed down long enough to evaluate the organization's policies and procedures. Thus the timing of QESST for CCM was perfect. The process forced us to take a look at where we were and, more importantly, all those things we had put on the shelf. For long term sustainability those shelf issues are critical. For CCM the process, while very detailed and thorough, came with willing assistants. The assistants were a real bonus. It is one thing to objectively realize where weaknesses appear and quite another to have the support to make necessary changes. I would recommend the engagement with QESST not only for new organizations that need a solid foundation to grow from but also for more mature organizations who have put too many items 'on the shelf' .

Stan Dawson - Executive Director

QESSTions & Answers

How does my organization start participation in the QESST Program? Participation is completely voluntary. Your organization’s representative needs to contact us requesting a QESST information guide, participation agreement, and to schedule participation in a local QESST training.

What staff or board members need to agree to participate in the QESST program? Authorizations from your organization’s Chair of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director/CEO are necessary to begin the QESST assessment process.

What is involved in the peer evaluation? The QESST assessment team of 2-3 trained consultants will schedule and conduct a site visit to your organization that includes a tour of your facility, inspection of records, and gathering of client feedback.

How will client feedback be gathered? The QESST team will gather client feedback in one of two methods; Surveying clients or focus group sessions. Information will be gathered in the form of questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, or group discussions. The QESST team will discuss with your Director prior to the visit what methodology will be most appropriate at your site.

How long will the QESST training and accreditation process take? The amount of time necessary to complete the QESST accreditation process depends largely on an organizations’ commitment to the process. Many organizations can be accredited in as little as 3 weeks while most organizations take 30 to 45 days.

Will my organization’s information be kept confidential? Yes, All QESST candidate organization’s information is kept strictly confidential. All QESST team members sign confidentiality agreements and all documents are kept in a secured file system.

How much of my staff and board’s time will be required to be trained and certified? Many organizations already possess the components necessary for QESST accreditation. A limited amount of staff and board time is required to assemble this backup documentation. Trainings are short yet comprehensive. QESST support staff will provide technical assistance to organizations needing help creating documents and policy and procedures.

What technical assistance is available during our QESST accreditation process? Organizations will have designated GCEH support staff to provide technical support throughout the accreditation process.

How long is our QESST accreditation good for? Once an organization has received their QESST accreditation it is effective for 3 years. There is a required annual assessment check-list to continue an organization’s 3 year accreditation In current status.

Will a QESST accreditation benefit my organization in applying for funding? Your QESST training and information gathered and assembled during the accreditation process is an invaluable tool for organizational development. Most funders require the administration and fiscal management documents, personnel and program policy with procedures as prerequisites for grant and funding applications. QESST accreditation organizations achieving the highest accreditation scores are acknowledged as Georgia's Best Practices providers.