Niagara Children’s Centre Earns Global Recognition
July 07, 2026
Niagara Children’s Centre Earns Global Recognition
CARF awards organization with three-year accreditation
St. Catharines, ON – Niagara Children’s Centre has once again been awarded a three-year accreditation from CARF International, recognizing the organization’s ongoing excellence in service delivery, client satisfaction, innovative programming, and community involvement.
This marks the Centre’s fifth consecutive three-year accreditation—CARF’s highest level of recognition—demonstrating sustained commitment to quality improvement and accountability.
The accreditation follows a rigorous peer-review process, including a two-day on-site survey conducted on April 14 and 15, during which CARF surveyors met with clients, families, staff, leadership, and community partners and reviewed extensive documentation of programs, services, and operations.
“Achieving another three-year accreditation is a meaningful reflection of the dedication and expertise of our entire team,” said Noella Klawitter, CEO, Niagara Children’s Centre. “Our staff consistently go above and beyond to provide family-centred care, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering the highest quality services to children and youth across Niagara.”
A three-year accreditation indicates that an organization has demonstrated substantial conformance to CARF standards and a strong commitment to continuous improvement, measurable outcomes, and client-centred care.
Surveyors noted the Centre’s collaborative culture, highlighting the commitment, enthusiasm, and professionalism of staff in creating a supportive and accessible environment for children, youth, and their families.
The report also recognized the Centre’s continued innovation in service delivery, including programs that support children and youth in community settings such as schools, efforts to reduce wait times for services, and the organization’s ability to adapt to evolving client needs.
In addition, CARF highlighted Niagara Children’s Centre’s strong community presence, noting staff involvement in outreach initiatives and events that help build awareness and foster connections across the region.
Niagara Children’s Centre remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of care through ongoing quality improvement planning and adherence to CARF accreditation standards.
Among the programs accredited by CARF are Home and Community Services (Pediatric Specialty Program), Interdisciplinary Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Program (Pediatric Specialty), and Governance Standards Applied.
To learn more about CARF International and the accreditation process, visit
CARF’s website.-30-
About Niagara Children’s Centre: Niagara Children’s Centre provided rehabilitation and child development services to more than 6,200 children and youth across the Niagara Region last year with physical, developmental, and communicative delays. The range of services include: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation.
About CARF International:CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and now known as CARF International, the accrediting body establishes consumer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality of their programs and services. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org.
For further information, contact: Michael Morrison, Marketing & Communications Officer
Phone: 905-688-1890 ext. 260
Email: michael.morrison@niagarachildrenscentre.comPhoto caption: Members of Niagara Children’s Centre’s leadership team alongside Accreditors from CARF International at the Centre's Glenridge Ave. facility, located across from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.