Which agency accredits educational programs in human services?

• A. National Association of Social Workers
• B. Council for Standards in Human Services Education (SHSE)
• C. Joint Commission
• D. American Public Health Association

Answer: (B)

Accreditation is the formal recognition that an educational program meets established quality standards for preparing professionals. The Council for Standards in Human Services Education is the body specifically formed to set these standards for human services education and to evaluate and grant accreditation to programs that meet them. That focus makes it the best fit for accrediting human services programs. The other organizations are professional associations or healthcare-focused accrediting bodies that don’t specialize in accrediting educational programs in human services: the National Association of Social Workers advocates for the profession but does not accredit programs; the Joint Commission accredits healthcare organizations and their programs rather than academic degree programs in human services; the American Public Health Association is a professional society centered on public health, not program accreditation.