ASPIRE to Excellence®

Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center has chosen to follow the CARF quality framework of ASPIRE to Excellence®.  The new framework organizes CARF’s standards into logical, action oriented business practices.  With this new direction we follow our mission and core values to achieve the best outcomes from our stakeholders and the clients we serve.  Collection and analysis of information provide the basis for the creative thought necessary to guide all organizational planning and action toward a future of service and business excellence.

Assess the Environment

The focus of our mission and core values is the person served.  The leadership assesses the context of our environment and guides the organization towards achieving our mission.

Set Strategy

The balance between where we are as an organization and where we need to go is a challenge that requires well-planned strategies.  Developing a sound strategic plan includes obtaining the input from a wide variety of sources and no strategic plan is complete without vital input from persons served and other stakeholders.

Persons Served

The clients we serve are the reason we exist as an organization.  Their feedback is essential to the design and delivery of quality services.  Input extends to funders, regulators, community members, the public and other stakeholders.  All of these contributions are very important to our success.

Implement the Plan

After we have developed our strategic plan, received input from our stakeholders and clients, it is time to fit it all together as we implement the plan.  We must ensure that:

  • We meet our legal and regulatory requirements
  • We have fiscally sound practices
  • We manage our risks and mitigate our loss
  • We provide a safe and healthy environment
  • We value our human resources
  • We integrate technology
  • We protect and communicate the rights of the persons served
  • We eliminate all barriers to accessibility

Review results

We have designed and implemented our strategic plan and we now review our results.  We measure how well we have done against how well we want to do.

Effect Change

We now know our strengths and know where we need to do better.  Now it’s time to effect change and improve performance.  With the input we have received from persons served, this quality framework will guide us into a successful future.