Officials with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Lambton Kent branch say recent recognition from Accreditation Canada validates their commitment to continuous improvement and efforts in providing quality care.
For the fourth consecutive cycle, CMHA Lambton Kent earned the exemplary standing designation, the highest level of accreditation awarded by Accreditation Canada.
"CMHA is very pleased to have been granted this designation, achieving 100 per cent on all of the required organizational practices that were set out for us as a community-based mental health and addictions service provider," said CEO Melissa Sharpe-Harrigan.
During a virtual media conference, the accreditation process was described as very rigorous, evaluating the organization against international and national standards.
"There were six specific standards for our agency," said Manager of Quality, Client Safety and Professional Practice Nicole Polak. "They looked at governance; infection, prevention, and control; leadership; medication management; service excellence; as well as specific mental health and addiction services. Each one of those had their own specific criteria, including required organizational practices that we needed to meet to indicate that we were at that exemplary standing."
CMHA Lambton Kent first achieved exemplary standing in 2014.
Accreditation Canada completes on-site evaluations every four years.
Preparation for this year's assessment began in mid-2025 and concluded with a three-day on-site survey in September 2026.
Polak said part of their preparation involved making sure they were up-to-date with best practices and consulting with other CMHAs across Ontario.
Sharpe-Harrigan said over the years, required organizational practices have changed slightly, and some standards are newer.
"Two examples I can think of in the last four and eight years: one is a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Are we providing not just excellent care but culturally safe care? The second area is environmentalism," Sharpe-Harrigan said. "As we're making organizational decisions, are we thinking about the impact to the environment?"
Sharpe-Harrigan said this accreditation provides assurances that the work they're doing aligns with their values.
"It also, when it comes to expanding programs and services as an organization, applying for funding... it allows us to show the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, community partners that the work we are doing is quality-based and it is evidence-based," she said.
The mental health and addictions service provider serves more than 8,000 people annually across Lambton County and Chatham-Kent, and employs about 175 people.
CMHA Lambton Kent works with various partners to help connect people with the services that will best match their needs.
In early October, CMHA Lambton Kent relocated its Sarnia office to a larger, more accessible space within the Lambton Shared Services Centre, located at 162 Lochiel St. The previous location, at 210 Lochiel St., remains open as the Lambton HART Hub.
