Getting Started with Accreditation

Prerequisites | Getting Started | Underway | Just about Ready

You've heard about accreditation and may have fielded questions about it. You may wonder if your local health department (LHD) should pursue it. LHDs just beginning to think about accreditation, and what it might take to prepare and garner support, can find resources to help begin the preparation process here. This page contains information about the background of accreditation, how to introduce your staff to the concept, and what to look for in an accreditation coordinator.

»	Accreditation Preparation Toolkit
	The Accreditation Preparation Toolkit is an online repository of resources to assist LHDs in preparing for national accreditation. LHDs just beginning to consider accreditation can search for literature providing background information on accreditation, how-to guides and examples of the prerequisite documents, and examples of accreditation preparation efforts from other LHDs.

»	Accreditation Coordinator Duties
	The accreditation coordinator is the person responsible for coordinating the application and accreditation process within the health department. If you’re wondering what that might entail, this document focuses on the tasks a coordinator may be in charge of and highlights how other coordinators have defined their roles in LHDs with state-based accreditation and similar programs.

»	Orienting LHD Staff for National Accreditation
	An early step in accreditation preparation is orienting LHD staff to the process. LHD staff may have little knowledge about what accreditation means, why it is important, and what the process entails. Local health official (LHOs)s that have decided to apply for accreditation can use the training material below to present to staff the basics of accreditation and how the agency will begin to prepare. This presentation is designed for LHOs that have decided to apply for accreditation and are ready to begin orienting staff to move towards preparation. This presenter's guide helps LHOs or other staff prepare and give the presentation above. This document includes answers to some FAQs about accreditation.

»	Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department
	The Operational Definition defines what every community should reasonably expect from its governmental public health department. Based on the 10 Essential Public Health Services and vetted widely among stakeholders, the Operational Definition served as a framework for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) national accreditation standards. Read on to view the Operational Definition and information on communicating the value of public health to stakeholders.