In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, accreditation by the Joint Commission proved instrumental in Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS) 's preparedness and response efforts. A key component of this accreditation is the requirement for an annually evaluated Emergency Management Plan, which includes staff training requirements, maintenance protocols, and evacuation plans.
The Joint Commission assesses training, focusing on ensuring that staff know how to live out the policies outlined in the plans. All new staff must be oriented to our emergency management protocols within the first week of employment. Ongoing crisis management and prevention training is provided quarterly at a minimum.
CCBS conducts regular safety drills across all shifts to ensure comprehensive staff training. Evaluations document each drill's effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. The Joint Commission emphasizes the performance of these drills and the actionable insights gained from them. Fortunately, storm conditions did not require an evacuation.
Our rigorous maintenance protocols, including monthly testing of our power generators and transfer switches, further fortified our readiness. Each month, our generators are tested for 30 minutes from a cold start, ensuring they are fully operational and ready to activate automatically when commercial power is lost. This automated response eliminates reliance on staff intervention, allowing us to focus on student care during emergencies.
“Our accreditation with The Joint Commission is valuable for Cherokee Creek Boys School on so many levels. While we lost power, phones, and internet for close to a week, we did not experience any property damage and were able to maintain routine care for our students,” reports Human Resource & Compliance Manager Ginelle Kohl. “Having specific plans in place allowed us to communicate important updates from campus and coordinate video calls for our students and their families.”
About Cherokee Creek Boys Schools:
Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS) is a year-round therapeutic boarding school for 10-16-year-old boys in grades 5-10. It is located in the Upstate of South Carolina in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded in 2003, Cherokee Creek is licensed by the State of South Carolina, nationally accredited by The Joint Commission, and academically accredited by Cognia. For more information please contact info@cherokeecreek.net .