The Bermuda National Standards Committee (BNSC) has accredited four human service providers and certified one charity.

At a press conference this morning, hosted by Minister of Community, Culture and Sports Wayne Scott, the Employee Assistance Programme of Bermuda and the Cross Ministry Intervention Team were accredited while Foster Care Services and Child Protection Services were re-accredited.

At the same time the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre was certified by the BNSC as a charity.

The minister explained the providers’ overall objective was to ensure “Bermuda addresses our growing social challenges collaboratively, demonstrate quality outcomes and make the most of limited resources especially in these economic times.”

Mr Scott added: “These private and public agencies have demonstrated that they are operating at an international level of best practice in all areas and will continue to report on their success and growth to the BNSC each year over the span of the next four years.

“This is great news and I wish to congratulate the team at the Department of Child and Family Services for their hard work and perseverance.

“For those charities that do not provide a direct prevention or intervention service but still desire a vehicle for demonstrating accountability and validating the high quality of their work, BNSC offers the certification.”

The BNSC was started in 2004 by private donors, government representatives and human service professionals.

The following year, the BNSC along with New York’s Council on Accreditation established the first international accrediting process.