Each fall, NACCHO’s Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) National Review Meeting convenes preparedness leaders from across the country—dedicated reviewers, state leads, and NACCHO staff—who volunteer their time to share a common mission: help local health departments strengthen their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.
This annual meeting serves as both the foundation of the PPHR recognition process and a unique opportunity to celebrate the power of collaboration in public health preparedness.
Advancing Excellence Through the Review Process
At the heart of the National Review Meeting is the peer review of health department applications for PPHR recognition. Each application represents months—often years—of planning, coordination, and improvement by local preparedness teams.
Over several days, reviewers work in teams to assess each applicant’s documentation across three key areas:
- Preparedness Planning: Evaluating comprehensive, all-hazards emergency operations and recovery plans as well as those addressing public health threats.
- Workforce Capacity: Assessing staff training, roles, and readiness to respond and evaluating performance through exercises and real events.
- Partnerships: Reviewing how effectively health departments engage and collaborate with their community, regional, and state partners.
Through structured, open discussions, reviewers ensure the scoring of the applications they have been assigned to review are consistent, fair, and adhere to PPHR standards. The meeting also allows NACCHO staff and reviewers to identify trends, share feedback, and continuously refine the program’s processes to better support local preparedness and guide the program’s ongoing continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts, reflecting the same practice we encourage our applicants to follow.
Learning, Sharing, and Connecting
Beyond the technical review work, the meeting fosters a sense of community and shared purpose for all who take part. Participants exchange insights, highlight promising practices from their own jurisdictions, and discuss challenges and innovations shaping the future of public health preparedness.
These conversations often inspire new strategies that ripple across the field. As one participant noted, “the National Review Meeting reminds us that we’re all part of something bigger—helping communities across the nation become safer and more resilient.”
Looking Ahead
The PPHR National Review Meeting underscores NACCHO’s ongoing commitment to supporting local health departments in achieving excellence in emergency preparedness and response. Every application reviewed and every discussion held contributes to a stronger, more coordinated public health system.
Looking ahead to the next PPHR cycle, NACCHO extends its sincerest appreciation to all reviewers, mentors, and state leads who make this program possible. Your expertise and dedication help ensure that communities across the nation are ready to face whatever comes next.
Get Involved
Interested in becoming part of the PPHR community?
Local health departments can learn more about applying for PPHR recognition, and preparedness professionals can volunteer as reviewers to support the program. Visit the PPHR website to explore opportunities, resources, and upcoming cycle information.
