CARF International history

November 1980 The Association of Trial Lawyers of America adopted a resolution urging state workers' compensation agencies to require CARF accreditation for rehabilitation organizations serving workers with occupational disabilities.

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.

January 1994 CARF reorganized its staffing pattern to emphasize three fields: Vocational and Employment/Developmental Disabilities, Medical Rehabilitation, and Alcohol and Other Drugs/Mental Health.

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.

January 1997 CARF signed a contract with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to accredit all of its rehabilitation programs over a five-year period.

July 1999 CARF began accrediting networks in Behavioral Health and Employment and Community Services fields through its Network Administration standards.

July 2001 In the Employment and Community Services Division, standards for a new service area, Workforce Development Services, went into effect.

September 2002 CARF Canada was incorporated in Edmonton, Alberta.

November 2003 The public information policy was extended to the Employment and Community Services unit and all others to which it did not already apply.

September 2006 CARF celebrated its 40th anniversary of accreditation services in the human service field.

June 2007 CARF launched its extranet Customer Connect (customerconnect.carf.org). October 2007 uSPEQ released the Employee Climate Survey -- a data collection and reporting system designed to assist organizations with performance improvement.

November 2008 CARF accredited its first program in the Middle East.

February 2010 CARF accredited its first programs on the African continent.