Food Safety - Demo Sites

What is the purpose of the food safety demonstration sites?
In October 2002, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Food Safety Program selected 12 local health departments to receive grants to implement innovative food safety programs.

Which development areas are the focus of the projects? 

Infrastructure, marketing, training, and program assessment.

Who are the participants?
The 12 sites represent diverse populations, jurisdictions, local health department structures, and geographical characteristics.

What occurs during the demonstration site process?
The primary activity during the demonstration site process is the implementation and tracking of programs proposed by the local health department awardees. Several program activities assist NACCHO and the demonstration sites in their collaboration:

• Site visits to establish contact among NACCHO food safety staff, food safety program funders, and each site;
• Monthly conference calls to initiate the demonstration site process, share information, and track the program's progress;
• Peer Assistance network to encourage dialogue among the demonstration sites and Food Safety Advisors to assist in the enhancement of their programs;
• Shared experiences through vignettes, conference presentations, and peer assistance to provide useful information to current and future demonstration sites and other food safety stakeholders;
• Orientation to give the demonstration sites an opportunity to interact with one another and food safety staff and sharing lessons learned; and  
• Learning community to focus on best practices with collaboration between demonstration sites and NACCHO's food safety program.

The food safety demonstration site process enhances local health department food safety capacities by creating long-lasting collaborative efforts between NACCHO and local public health. NACCHO serves as a support structure and facilitator of the process. It is the intent that through this effort, many of the programs developed will be designated "model practices" and transferred to other health departments around the country.

If you have questions about the food safety demonstration sites or about the food safety program at NACCHO, please contact:

Subha Chandar, MPH
Program Manager
NACCHO
1100 17th Street, NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 783-5550, Ext. 283
Fax: (202) 783-1583
E-mail: schandar@naccho.org

 
Grace Ibanga
Program Assistant
NACCHO
1100 17th Street, NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 783-5550, Ext. 249
Fax: (202) 783-1583
E-mail: gibanga@naccho.org