Accreditation Support Initiative Sites (2012-2013)

NACCHO/CDC Accreditation Support Initiative Awardees: 2012-2013

In fall 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support provided funding to NACCHO to renew the Accreditation Support Initiatives (ASI) for a second year. The ASIs are intended to stimulate quality improvement and promote the readiness of health departments to seek voluntary national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Project activities include efforts to meet the identified PHAB prerequisites, achievement of PHAB standards and measures, and offsetting accreditation fees (up to 50 percent of the total fee). These two initiatives, which are providing direct, targeted funding of approximately $1.2 million across 31 total recipients, demonstrate how relatively small amounts of funding can be of great interest and value to health departments in their accreditation readiness efforts. Descriptions of the two initiatives, and the activities of the sites funded through them, are provided below.

#1 - Accreditation Readiness Support for Health Departments and Support Organizations

This opportunity was available to all public health departments (state, local, territorial and tribal) as well as support organizations that assist local and tribal health departments (e.g., state health departments, public health institutes, state associations of county and city health officials) to undertake accreditation activities. Approximately 130 applications were received, illustrating heavy interest. Twenty awardees were identified to receive funding between $5,000 and $40,000 each:

Local Health Departments (LHDs)

1. City of Pasadena Health Department (CA)
Funded to complete a community health improvement plan; produce a performance measurement plan; and develop a comprehensive plan for reviewing laws and documentation examples.

2. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (NC)
Funded to complete a Tribal community health assessment and an agency strategic plan.

3. Erie County Health Department (OH)
Funded to complete a community health improvement plan and an agency strategic plan; design an example process for reviewing, dating and signing documentation for PHAB; and conduct a gap analysis of strengths and weaknesses in documentation across the domains. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013.

4. Gallatin City-County Health Department (MT)
Funded to develop a performance management system; complete an agency strategic plan; and provide accreditation training to agency staff. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013.

5. Henry County Health Department (OH)
Funded to create and implement an electronic documentation storage system and preparation process, and develop a list of possible documentation for Domains 1-12. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by July 1, 2013.

6. Kent County Health Department (MI)
Funded to develop a performance management system; provide quality improvement training to staff; and develop an organizational cultural competency policy. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013.

7. Malheur County Health Department (OR)
Funded to provide quality improvement training to staff; develop a quality improvement policy; and write a report on a completed quality improvement activity.

8. New Orleans Health Department (LA)
Funded to complete an agency strategic plan; develop a performance management system; complete communication policies; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee.

9. Norwalk Health Department (CT)
Funded to complete a workforce development plan; complete the agency strategic plan; develop a performance management system; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee.

10. Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (NE)
Funded to develop a mechanism for TribalTrack communications; train content area experts to use TribalTrack with tribal health departments; complete outreach sessions and train 17 tribal health department representatives; and modify and deliver an assessment tool to capture tribal health department education needs.

11. Sedgwick County Health Department (KS)
Funded to complete a community health improvement plan and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee.

12. St. Clair County Health Department (IL)
Funded to complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee.

13. St. Lawrence County Health Department (NY)
Funded to complete an agency strategic and written protocol for reviewing/updating the plan.

14. Town of Stratford Health Department (CT)
Funded to complete an agency strategic plan.

Support Organizations

1. Indiana Public Health Association
Funded to provide tailored assistance and resources on accreditation preparation and community health assessments to Indiana LHDs and local boards of health, and provide targeted technical assistance to three Indiana LHDs.

2. Institute for Wisconsin’s Health
Funded to conduct an Accreditation Summit for 12-15 Wisconsin LHDs; and provide targeted technical assistance, via matched "mentor" agencies, to three LHDs that are preparing to submit applications to PHAB by May 2013.

3. Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona
Funded to provide quality improvement training for tribal health departments; conduct a tribal/state/federal accreditation roundtable; and provide targeted technical assistance to three tribal HDs.

4. Mid-America Center for Public Health Practice at the University of Illinois-Chicago
Funded to produce a report on factors contributing to Illinois LHDs’ ability to address Domain 8; develop a comprehensive online Accreditation Workforce Development Toolkit; and provide targeted technical assistance on workforce development to three Illinois LHDs.

5. North Dakota State Association of County and City Health Officials
Funded to provide technical assistance on accreditation preparation to 13 local health departments in North Dakota.

6. Public Health Institute (CA)
Funded to provide targeted technical assistance to two California LHDs and conduct two statewide teleconference accreditation sharing sessions.

#2 - Accreditation Readiness for Large Metropolitan Jurisdictions

Through the Affordable Care Act Prevention and Public Health Fund (ACA-PPHF), specific funding was made available to support the accreditation readiness efforts of local health departments (LHDs) serving large metropolitan jurisdictions. Applications to this initiative were solicited by invitation only and the opportunity was limited to health departments not directly receiving funding through the CDC National Public Health Improvement Initiative. Sites in this initiative will benefit from additional networking opportunities throughout the project period. Eleven jurisdictions were selected as awardees, receiving up to $65,000 each:

1. Baltimore City Health Department (MD)
                                                                                                                                                       Funded to complete the community health assessment and improvement plan; complete the agency strategic plan; and implement an electronic documentation storage process. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

2. Boston Public Health Commission (MA)

Funded to produce an accreditation readiness assessment/gap analysis; complete a written roadmap for addressing accreditation requirements; and support progress toward completing a community health improvement plan and quality improvement plan. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

3. City of El Paso Department of Health (TX)
                                                                                                                                                                                      Funded to update its community health assessment and improvement plan; produce a written roadmap for addressing accreditation requirements; draft a workforce development plan; and complete manuals needed for documentation in Domains 2 and 3. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

4. Columbus Public Health (OH)

Funded to develop processes related to implementation of the community health improvement plan and developing competency-based job descriptions; finalize a workforce development plan and training curriculum plan; and update its quality improvement training plan. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction, and will develop a start-up kit to help LHDs just beginning the accreditation process. The health department applied for accreditation in 2012.

5. Cuyahoga County Board of Health (OH)

Funded to complete significant portions of the community health improvement process and develop documentation for several PHAB domains. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

6. Denver Health & Hospital Authority (CO)

Funded to hire a quality improvement coordinator; establish the infrastructure and complete planning for an agency performance management system; and finalize a quality improvement plan. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

7. Fresno County Department of Public Health (CA)

Funded to develop and implement a functioning performance/quality management system and complete documentation needed for Domain 9.1. The health department will also share these learnings and provide related technical assistance to other LHDs in their jurisdiction.

8. Multnomah County Health Department (OR)

Funded to develop plans and policies for a functioning performance/quality management system; finalize the quality improvement and communications plans; and provide staff and leadership training. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to smaller LHDs in their jurisdiction.

9. Orange County Health Department (CA)

Funded to complete a community health assessment using the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships framework; complete a quality improvement plan; and provide quality improvement training to staff.

10. Public Health-Seattle & King County (WA)

Funded to support development of and implement a workforce training needs assessment instrument; document strategies for engaging staff in workforce surveys; produce draft workforce development and training evaluation plans; and develop a system for tracking staff professional development activities. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to smaller LHDs in their jurisdiction.

11. Salt Lake County Health Department (UT)

Funded to: complete the community health improvement plan; complete the agency strategic plan; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation July 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee