Meet the Team: Kelly Jones, LPC, BC-TMH, NCC
Kelly Jones is a surveyor for the ACHC Behavioral Health Program. She has over 15 years of experience providing comprehensive mental health services to diverse populations. As a licensed professional counselor, Kelly’s expertise includes counseling, patient/family education, collaboration and care teams, program development, and case management.
Posted: February 12, 2026
INTERVIEWER:
Kelly, thank you for joining us to talk about ACHC’s Behavioral Health Accreditation. It’s such a massive program! We offer 20 behavioral health services; no other ACHC Accreditation Program comes close to that number of offerings.
KELLY:
Well, it just goes to show you how mental health services show up in so many spaces. Having 20 behavioral health services makes perfect sense to me, but I also understand the different sectors and their needs.
For example, substance abuse treatment usually connects with residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, withdrawal management, and psychosocial rehabilitation. Another example would be something like an eating disorder clinic, which could provide partial hospitalization, day treatment, and family counseling. That’s why so many behavioral health providers seek accreditation for multiple services at the same time.
INTERVIEWER:
Tell us about your career path and how you got into this field.
KELLY:
I’m a licensed professional counselor. But I’ve served foster care systems, hospitals, schools, and workplace settings—I’ve done a lot of work with EAPs (employee assistance programs). I was the director of a homeless shelter for teenaged mothers. I did behavioral health utilizations for insurance companies. I’ve even worked with military families.
These days, I see clients in my private practice, I’m an adjunct professor, and I’m an ACHC Surveyor.
For me, working in behavioral health is all about community. Service recipients need help functioning in the community, and we, as a community of professionals, are called on to collaborate and support that journey.
INTERVIEWER:
As a surveyor, what are your thoughts on common challenges facing behavioral health organizations seeking accreditation?
KELLY:
I survey many great organizations. I see providers who love their jobs, have happy clients, and who deliver safe, quality patient care. They’re providing mental health support and care because they want to help people. That’s first and foremost on their minds.
But the most prevalent issues aren’t related to those things; they’re mostly tied to documentation. I frequently cite deficiencies for ACHC Standards BH5-7B and BH5-1A. BH5-7B relates to discharge planning. Most of the standard is being met, but the paperwork is missing one or two elements. BH5-1A defines the elements in the service recipient’s record. Organizations are verbally communicating the required information to the client, but they’re missing the evidence of completion, like a signature or a checkbox.
INTERVIEWER:
Why are these items missing? Would using a checklist help?
KELLY:
Sometimes the answer really is that simple. But sometimes there’s more to it.
Accreditation is a huge commitment for any provider, but smaller organizations are especially challenged when they’re new to the process. Some staff members may be coming from private practice where expectations for documentation are less specific. It’s like learning a new language.
Burnout is also a major culprit. Working with clients can be intense. It’s not uncommon to work shifts that are 24-72 hours. At the end of a long shift, it’s tempting to skip writing some things down, or to think, “Oh, I’ll come back to that.” But you’re wiped out, and you forget.
When I’m on survey, I’m always assessing the why behind the deficiency. “Why is this organization missing documentation? Is it because they don’t understand the requirement, or is it because the providers are burned out?” Because those are two different conversations.
INTERVIEWER:
Do you offer tips for compliance during surveys?
KELLY:
Absolutely! That’s my favorite part of being a surveyor. It’s so gratifying to help providers and watch them have that “a ha” moment when they out the pieces together.
For new organizations, I typically recommend seeking out a consultant. Work with them to go through every accreditation standard, line by line, and check them against your policies and procedures. Does your policy match the standard? Then chances are, you’re doing what you said you would do. That process is so much easier with a capable consultant leading the way.
I also encourage organizations to explore EHRs (electronic health records). Many smaller agencies are still working on paper, or maybe they’re working within an EHR system that isn’t suited to their needs. If they find the right technology, they can document during the visit, which is a huge timesaver. Increased efficiency will also help cut down on the burnout I spoke about earlier.
Since I travel to many different states and settings, I get to see how organizations achieve compliance in a wide range of circumstances. I love being able to say, “I’ve seen providers similar to yours, and I’ve noticed they use these solutions. So, here are some ideas to consider.” It’s a wonderful opportunity to build community and share information.
For me, working in behavioral health is all about community. Service recipients need help functioning in the community, and we, as a community of professionals, are called on to collaborate and support that journey.
INTERVIEWER:
What a great note to end on. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
KELLY:
Just that I feel incredibly supported as an ACHC Surveyor. If I have a question, I know I can call the team and receive guidance right away. I hear the same thing from our customers! They love the responsive, educational experience provided by ACHC. It’s like that behind the scenes as well.
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Read more articles about Behavioral HealthAccreditation here.