FORT SILL, Okla. (Jan. 16, 2015) -- The Fort Sill School Age Center (SAC) achieved the highest rating possible during a one-day accreditation survey here Dec. 8.
The facility and its staff received the expedited-level score by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
The civilian accreditation survey is performed every five years, and passing it is an Army requirement to operate.
"All of our hard work payed off, and we couldn't have done it without our staff," said Lindsay Insomya, SAC director. "We have a great team that works here, and we have a lot of support from the command."
The SAC offers before and after school program during the school year, and a summer day camp for three months. It provides quality care through a variety of fun and educational activities including arts and crafts, cooking, sewing, computer technology, physical activities; and science, technology, engineering and math.
The facilities include a computer lab, homework room, gym, game room, project room and theater. The SAC serves first through fifth graders and can take up to 105 students.
During the survey, the evaluator looked at 2,000 standards ranging from administration of the facility, human resources documentation, overall programing and facilities. Within a given standard, there were several subsets that were graded.
For example, under the standard "Promotes healthy eating and good nutrition," seven requirements had to be met including having drinking water readily available at all times, offering types and amounts of food appropriate for the age and size of children, providing snacks and meals at appropriate times, and educating children about healthy eating habits.
Each standard was graded between one and four, with one being a perfect score.The SAC scored ones on 1,198 standards; and scored two twos, said Insomya, who has been the director since September 2012. A SAC must score all ones and twos to earn expedited level of accreditation.
The evaluator also talked with children who attended the program.
"She said the kids were great, and that you could tell they really enjoyed the program and they felt welcome and homey in the center," Insomya said.
The SAC is staffed with eight caregivers, two administrative specialists, two maintenance workers, one cook, a director and an assistant director.
They began preparing for the accreditation one year ago, said Carrie Martin, SAC assistant director. They gathered documentation on their services, personnel, activities, and customer feedback, as well as ensuring the facility met standards. Some documentation was provided on-line before the visit, and all of the hard-copy documents and logs were available to the surveyor during the site visit.
The SAC staff always strives to exceed the standards and do the right thing all the time, Martin said.
In addition to the accreditation survey, the SAC gets three monthly inspections through the Army, Martin said. Health inspectors come through, Veterinary Treatment Facility Soldiers inspect the kitchen and fire inspectors from the Directorate of Emergency Service walk through monthly looking for hazards.
The Army Central Installation Management Command Region also performs an annual higher headquarters inspection of the SAC. The Fort Sill SAC scored a 92 percent in this recent inspection, the SAC director said.
Insomya said the high accreditation score is a reflection of the quality of services provided by the SAC staff.
"It says the Fort Sill SAC is a safe program, and it's a great program to put you kids in."
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