Epilepsy Foundation Secures Prestigious National Accreditation

LANDOVER, Md., Aug. 30, 2016 -- Epilepsy Foundation, the nation’s leader in epilepsy and seizure information engagement, is among a select group of organizations to be accredited by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS), in recognition of the quality of information and referral service it provides to the epilepsy community.

Epilepsy Foundation has demonstrated excellence in the information and referral (I&R) services field by successfully completing a detailed professional accreditation process administered by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). The following six areas were evaluated to assure that quality performance and service are being met for those in need:

• Service Delivery - accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased information is provided in a confidential, anonymous, and or nonjudgemental manner
• Resource Database - develop, maintain, use, and disseminate an accurate, up-to-date resource database that contains available community resources and details about the services provided
• Reports and Measures - generates valuable information about the problems and needs of the community and accessibility of resources on how to meet those needs
• Cooperative Relationships - work collaboratively with other I&R services at local, regional, state/provincial and national levels to participate in a broader delivery system
• Disaster Preparedness - development of an emergency operations and business contingency plan that enables the I&R service to continue to provide support if the building is damaged or destroyed and to disseminate accurate disaster-related information
• Organizational Effectiveness - development of several key areas to strengthen the quality of services including: policies and procedures that guide the organization, organizational code of ethics, sound fiscal practices, staff training, and providing ongoing program evaluation and quality assurance

“This was a three-year process that led to the Epilepsy & Seizures Helpline to review their policies and practices, training, reporting, and evaluation. The Helpline was evaluated in over 200 areas and was able to meet the requirements of the AIRS accreditation process. Several of our information specialists have advanced to Certified Information and Referral Specialists through AIRS and have also received training in suicide prevention.” - Thomas Buckley, Director of Information and Referral at Epilepsy Foundation

AIRS is an international nonprofit professional association with a membership of more than 1,200 public and private organizations that bring people and services together through I&R. I&R organizations create and maintain databases of agencies and programs that offer services, and disseminate that information through a variety of channels to individuals and communities.

The AIRS Accreditation Program is a multi-phase process that assesses more than 200 distinct components of an I&R service’s operation and includes an expert review of the agency’s resource database, a “secret shopper” monitoring of service delivery, and culminates in a detailed onsite review.

The Epilepsy Foundation joins more than 140 organizations in the United States and Canada to have successfully attained AIRS Accreditation. They operate a 24/7 helpline that can be reached at 1-800-332-1000.

About Epilepsy
When a person has two unprovoked seizures or one unprovoked seizure with the likelihood of more, they are considered to have epilepsy. Epilepsy affects 3 million people in the U.S. and 65 million worldwide. This year, another 150,000 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy. Despite all available treatments, 4 out of 10 people with epilepsy continue to experience uncontrolled seizures while many more experience less than optimal seizure control.
  
About the Epilepsy Foundation
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with nearly 50 local organizations throughout the U.S., has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is: to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives. The Foundation works to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential. For additional information, please visit epilepsy.com.

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Media Contact 
LeAnn Harley | Manager of Media Relations 
[email protected] | 301.918.3721