Doug Marshall, president and CEO of the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, has been named to the executive committee of a national organization devoted to excellence in faith-based care for children, youth, families and older adults.
Marshall was named treasurer of the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries at the organization’s annual meeting in April. Marshall joins UMA’s executive committee for a two-year term and will continue to serve on their finance committee, which he joined in April of 2022. He is a CPA and was vice president and controller of Spire (previously Alagasco) before becoming president/CEO of the Presbyterian Home for Children in 2017.
UMA is a national network of more than 450 health and human service organizations serving children, families, seniors and persons with disabilities. Based in Frederick, Md., UMA is dedicated to identifying effective and ethical service delivery models, defining standards that support those models, and sharing those models with organizations which together touch the lives of 4.4 million individuals each year.
UMA is the sponsoring organization of EAGLE (Educational Assessment Guidelines Leading toward Excellence), the only faith-based accrediting body in the United States focusing on ministry with children and older adults.
“I became familiar with UMA when the Presbyterian Home for Children was first accredited by EAGLE in 2017,” Marshall said. “I was impressed with how UMA and EAGLE challenge organizations to soar above the competition while living their faith values.”
EAGLE’s primary emphasis is on excellence in Christian ministry, with a focus on how applicant organizations incorporate their Christian mission, religious heritage and values throughout the organization and its daily operations. Other areas of emphasis include focusing on results and outcomes, striving to improve, meeting legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring privacy, accuracy, accessibility and confidentiality of both client and staff data and information.
EAGLE is a Methodist-related organization, but the Methodist church is ecumenical in its approach to faith, and faith-based organizations affiliated with many other churches seek EAGLE accreditation, according to Marshall. He also serves on the EAGLE Accreditation Commission and as an EAGLE peer reviewer for ministries across the country, including children’s homes and senior living communities.
The Presbyterian Home for Children is also accredited by Social Current, formerly Council on Accreditation, the nation’s leading accrediting organization for social service agencies in the U.S. and Canada.
“Accreditation is important because it’s a formal recognition of the high performance standards that have always made the Home special,” Marshall said. “Both of these accreditations are objective, independent and reliable validation that we are delivering the highest quality services to all of our stakeholders.”
Marshall said accreditation helps organizations like the Home strive for excellence by challenging them to demonstrate how they are adhering to standards followed by excellent organizations.
