The Alexis Verzal Children's Rehabilitation Hospital at Madonna is accredited by CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission as a Pediatric Specialty Program in areas of comprehensive inpatient hospital, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and comprehensive outpatient programs. According to CARF: 'The essence of a Pediatric Specialty Program is family-centered care. Family-centered care is defined as having eight critical components. They are:

1. Recognition that the family/support system is the constant in a child's life, which the service systems and personnel within those systems change.

2. Facilitation of family/support system - professional collaboration at all levels of care.

3. Sharing of unbiased and complete information with the family/support system about the child's care on an ongoing basis, in an appropriate and supportive manner.

4. Implementation of appropriate policies and programs that are comprehensive and provide emotional and financial support to meet the needs of families/support systems.

5. Recognition of family/support system strengths and individuality and respect for different models of coping.

6. Understandindg and incorporating the developmental needs of infants, children, and adolescents and their families/support systems into healthcare systems.

7. Encouragement of family to family support.

8. Assurance that the design of healthcare delivery systems is flexible, accessible, and responsive to family/support system needs.' .