The Mental Health Association in NC has created an Accreditation Team to work with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) to fulfill the requirements needed for a successful first-time accreditation.  National accreditation is consistent with the goals of system reform and helps provide assurances that providers of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services are striving to meet nationally researched and established standards.  Any agency that enrolls to provide mental health services must achieve national accreditation.  As set forth in the respective service definitions, national accreditation must be achieved within three years of enrollment as a provider.  MHA/NC is currently working toward this goal.