Two Home Care Agencies Make “B Corp Best for the World” List

Cooperative Home Care Associates (CHCA) and Home Care Associates (HCA) were both named to the 2014 “B Corp Best for the World” list.

B Lab, a nonprofit organization that recognizes businesses creating positive social and environmental impact, announced, in March, the Best for the World companies.

B Lab assesses companies based on features such as:

• accountability and transparency in governance;
• treatment of workers, including compensation, benefits, ownership opportunities, and overall work environment;
• community impact, including efforts toward improving social issues; and
• environmental stewardship.

The Bronx-based CHCA and HCA of Philadelphia both earned scores high enough to rank them in the top 10 percent of the assessed 987 “Certified B Corporations.” These rankings highlight the companies’ worker-ownership models and commitment to their communities. CHCA and HCA are 97 and 98 percent owned by individuals from “underrepresented populations,” respectively, with at least 40 percent of their management from underrepresented populations.

This year’s recognition marks the second year in a row that CHCA and HCA were honored on the “Best for the World” list. Both companies achieved this distinction for the first time in 2013, after being certified as B Corps in 2012. The companies hold the honor of being the only two home care agencies that have earned B Corp certification.

“PHI commends CHCA and HCA for achieving recognition on the B Corp ‘Best for the World’ List,” said PHI President Jodi M. Sturgeon. “CHCA and HCA have shown that it is possible to be a successful home care provider, while meeting the highest standards of responsible corporate citizenship.” Both CHCA and HCA are PHI affiliates.

“We’re proud that our agency was selected to this list, and proud to be members of the community of B Corporations,” said CHCA President Michael Elsas. “CHCA is deeply committed to serving our community, providing quality care to our clients, and ensuring that our workers hold quality jobs.”

HCA President and CEO Karen Kulp said, “As a worker-owned cooperative, HCA’s bottom line is to value our staff. We measure success by whether our workers hold quality jobs. We see this B Corp recognition as a strong indicator of the success of this approach.”

The “B Corp Movement” started in 2007, according to the B Lab website, and is a “growing community of more than 950 Certified B Corps from 32 countries and 60 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business.” Notable B Corporations include companies such as Patagonia, Seventh Generation, and Ben & Jerry’s.

— by Casey Dinkin, PHI Development Associate