A Commitment to Person-Centered Excellence

Since 2007, Empower Simcoe is proud to be accredited with the Council on Quality and Leadership, an organization dedicated to the definition, measurement, and improvement of personal quality of life. CQL provides accreditation, training, certification, research, and customized consultation services to organizations and systems that share their vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.

In May 2021, Empower Simcoe was awarded its latest four-year Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation from CQL, confirming the agency’s commitment to person-centered solutions to improve the quality of life for people receiving supports and services.

“The achievement of another four years of Accreditation is a powerful motivator that the work we do, has impact. It shows we really are helping people to Be, Belong and Thrive,” says Empower Simcoe CEO, Claudine Cousins.

Blue achievement banner for cql accreditation
The Council on Quality and Leadership Logo | Simcoe Community Services

When Empower Simcoe partnered with CQL to pursue accreditation, it undertook a rigorous process to review and improve supports and services. The efforts of Empower Simcoe were focused on empowering the people who receive supports to pursue what really matters in their lives, and achieve their personally-defined outcomes.

“Empower Simcoe is truly an elite organization that embodies the very best in human services,” states Mary Kay Rizzolo, CQL President and CEO. “They have deeply-rooted person-centered philosophies that carry out into their actual practices. It’s having a demonstrable impact on people’s lives.”

CQL Accreditation signifies that Empower Simcoe is committed to the principles of person-centered services, and acknowledges the work is not finished. Empower Simcoe looks forward to this ongoing journey to person-centered excellence to improve the quality of life for people and families receiving services.

Empower Simcoe CEO Claudine Cousins announces another four-year Accreditation term from CQL.