REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Recognition of Fire Department on Achieving International Accreditation Status Awarded by the Commission for Fire Accreditation International
Report
BACKGROUND
On August 9, 2018 the Commission for Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) awarded International Accreditation Status to the Santa Clara Fire Department. The Commission on Fire Accreditation International consists of eleven members that represent a cross-section of the fire and emergency service, including fire departments, city and county management, labor, standards development organizations, and the U.S. Department of Defense. This prestigious award recognizes the Department's commitment to achieving excellence through self-assessment, peer evaluation, and continuous quality improvement in order to improve service delivery to our community.
DISCUSSION
The CFAI accreditation process was conducted over a twenty-month period, and included several key milestones. The process began in December 2016 with the development of a five-year, community driven strategic plan, which outlines the agency's strengths and areas for improvement. Next, the department conducted an in-depth community risk analysis and produced a Community Risk Assessment and Standard of Cover document, which provides detailed data on the delivery of service in our city. Finally, the department underwent a self-assessment and peer review process to ensure that industry best practices are followed and that plans are in place to address identified opportunities for improvement.
Being an accredited fire agency enhances quality improvement processes and provides the highest level of fire and rescue services to the City of Santa Clara. Benefits of accreditation and self-assessment include:
* Assures stakeholders and the public that the Fire Department has a defined mission and appropriate goals that meet the needs of the community
* Creates methods for addressing deficiencies while building upon organizational str...
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