AIRS Certification and Accreditation

Certification Accreditation Study Groups ABC's of I&R

Certification

Certification Information

AIRS Certification is a professional credentialing program for individuals working within the I&R sector of human services.

Certification is a measurement of documented knowledge in the field of I&R and I&R/A reflecting specific competencies and related performance criteria, which describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and work-related behaviors needed by I&R practitioners to successfully execute their duties. The AIRS Certification Program is operated in alignment with national standards for credentialing organizations.

Certification is available for three specializations within I&R. Individuals who successfully pass the AIRS certification examination are awarded professional certification (and a lapel pin!), and may use the following credentials after their names:

CIRS — Certification for I&R Specialists
CIRS-A/D — Certification for I&R Specialists in Aging/Disability
CRS — Certification for Resource Specialists

For more detailed information about certification, visit www.AIRS.org

Certification Manager
Alliance of Information & Referral Systems
11240 Waples Mill Rd., Suite 200
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-218-AIRS, ext.201
Fax 703-359-7562
gro.sria@noitacifitrec

Accreditation

What is AIRS Accreditation?

AIRS Accreditation assesses the ability of an I&R program to demonstrate full compliance with the AIRS Standards for Professional Information and Referral.

It is the primary quality assurance mechanism for affirming I&R excellence. Accreditation is a multi-phase process that assesses more than 200 distinct operational components and culminates in a detailed onsite review.

The importance of AIRS Accreditation is endorsed by both national and state entities as a benchmark for all I&R providers. For 2-1-1 services in particular, it has been deemed an absolute requirement for funding in most states.

AIRS Accreditation provides:

An objective evidence of achievement in the areas of service quality and effectiveness, community involvement and organizational stability
Demonstrated commitment on the part of your leadership to meeting the highest standards in the field
Enhanced credibility in the eyes of the public and your other stakeholders
A stronger position in what is emerging as a competitive field (some funders are requiring accreditation)
Expanded access to new markets, government funding and foundation grants
Improved protection against legal challenges
International recognition by your peers in the I&R sector

For more information about AIRS Accreditation, go to www.air.org or contact AIRS at (703) 218-AIRS (2477) or email at gro.srianull@ofni.

Study Groups

“Get Started” Study Groups

WisconsinAIRS sponsors “getting started” study groups. The study groups are designed to support Information and Referral / Assistance Specialists taking the Certification for I&R Specialists (CIRS) and the Certification for I&R Specialists in Aging and Disability (CIRS-A/D) exams.

Study Group Schedules

Study groups are scheduled periodically upon request. Submit a request under the Contact Us section.
Registration is due no later than one week before the study group.

ABC's of I&R

The ABC’s of I&R, a 500+ page publication, is the foundation for training all Information & Referral (or Information & Assistance) Specialists and Resource Specialists. It is an invaluable aid for preparing existing staff for AIRS certification examinations.

The ABCs contains over 20 sections on the I&R / I&A process (from greeting to closure), advocacy and empowerment, follow-up, crisis intervention, confidentiality, challenging inquirers. Several sections are devoted to specific populations. And several detail the structure and use of a resource database. Are you or your staff preparing to take the AIRS certification exam? Are you or your staff in training for I&R / I&A positions -- or in need of refresher training. Then the ABC’s is the number one resource for you.

WisconsinAIRS has obtained several copies of the ABC’s of I&R. They are available for loan. The ABCs will be shipped to you.

If interested in borrowing a copy of the ABC's of I&R from WisconsinAIRS, please contact us at moc.liamgnull@srianisnocsiw