NACCHO’s Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) program is pleased to recognize or re-recognize 14 local and regional health agencies for their ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. Four agencies from Texas, Michigan, Florida, and Tennessee have earned PPHR recognition for the first time, while ten agencies from Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Utah and Tennessee achieved PPHR re-recognition status. These agencies will have this recognition for five years.

PPHR is a criteria-based training and recognition program created by NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help local health departments (LHDs) develop core public health, emergency preparedness competencies. This intensive 18-month program provides LHDs the structure to build training and preparedness capacity using a continuous quality improvement model.

PPHR recognition reflects an agency’s dedication to successfully complete the application process and its commitment to high national standards of public health preparedness. NACCHO extends its congratulations to the following 14 agencies for their exceptional accomplishment:

1. Pima County Health Department, AZ
2. Florida Department of Health in Brevard County
3. Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County
4. Florida Department of Health in Gilchrist County
5. Florida Department of Health in Hardee County
6. Florida Department of Health in Marion County
7. Denton County Public Health, TX
8. Oakland County Health Division, MI
9. East Tennessee Regional Health Office, TN
10. Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office, TN
11. Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office, TN
12. Sullivan County Regional Health Department, TN
13. Weber-Morgan Health Department, UT
14. Region 3 Capitol Region Emergency Planning Council, CT

About the PPHR Program

The goal of the PPHR program is to help LHDs become more fully integrated into the response community and be prepared to respond to any emergency. The PPHR program offers LHDs an opportunity to (1) build partnerships with state and federal leads, community response partners and other stakeholders; and (2) facilitate collaboration and teambuilding across the entire health department. At the end of the program, LHDs will have a written all-hazards response plan that aligns with national and federal standards.

Applicants work to meet the PPHR criteria by collaborating with their state, local, and community response partners to develop comprehensive and coordinated plans. The process builds relationships among health department staff and between other local agencies and community groups. The national recognition of these collaborative efforts also yields increased visibility, credibility, and accountability for local health departments in their role as response partners.

More information about the PPHR program can be found on the PPHR webpage, and agencies interested in applying for PPHR can contact PPHR staff at [email protected].