Coming Soon: Revamped PPHR Application
Sep 19, 2025 | Leila Blais
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MyNACCHO LoginThis is the fourth in a series of blog posts diving into Project Public Health Ready. Click here to view the first post in the series, “Getting to Know PPHR.”
NACCHO’s Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) team is pleased to share that the updated PPHR application and materials will launch this fall—just in time for the 2026 Cycle.
Before the official launch, here’s a sneak peek at some of the updates to the application—starting with Goal 1.
In the current application, Goal 1 is the largest and most comprehensive section. Based on feedback from stakeholders, this goal has been restructured. What was once one goal is now four targeted, streamlined goals that guide applicants more clearly through the preparedness process.
What was once Goal I: All-Hazards Response Plan is now:
- Goal 1: Engage with the Whole Community to prepare for public health emergency response and recovery.
- Goal 2: Conduct all-hazards planning for emergency response.
- Goal 3: Maintain plans, processes, and procedures for investigating and mitigating public health threats.
- Goal 4: Maintain plans, processes, and systems for recovering from emergencies.
Goal 1: Engage with the Whole Community
This goal puts community front and center. Applicants will identify the biggest public health risks in their jurisdiction, then consider who might be disproportionately affected. It’s all about inclusive partnerships — who’s at the table before, during, and after a public health emergency?
Goal 2: Conduct All-Hazards Planning
Time to dig into the plans. Applicants reflect on the strength of their all-hazards planning — what exists, where it is kept, who can access it, and how it integrates both public health and emergency management perspectives. Communication procedures take the spotlight here, too.
Goal 3: Investigate and Mitigate Threats
This goal gets into the nuts and bolts: maintaining, updating, and activating public health plans and procedures. Applicants also assess their surveillance systems, countermeasure strategies, and how they approach mitigation through both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical means.
Goal 4: Plan for Recovery
Emergencies don’t end when the sirens stop. Goal 4 challenges applicants to think long-term: how will your agency ensure continuity of services after the crisis, and how do you support broader community recovery? This is where resilience planning comes into play.
Each goal is designed to strengthen public health preparedness by encouraging applicants to critically evaluate their agency’s current capabilities and level of readiness for emergencies and disasters. As they work through each criteria element, applicants are naturally prompted to reflect on whether their existing plans are current and comprehensive.
In addition to the revised applications are two additional updates:
- A refreshed PPHR website, designed to improve navigation and provide tailored content. New pages offer targeted resources for prospective applicants and current participants, making it easier to access the information most relevant to each group.
- A redesigned PPHR logo that better reflects the program’s identity. The new design highlights elements of PPHR and will be rolled out across all PPHR materials—including recognition plaques.
These changes as part of a broader effort to strengthen and modernize the PPHR program.
Follow along in this blog series exploring the program updates, sharing expert perspectives, and highlighting how PPHR can help strengthen your department’s preparedness.
For more information on PPHR, check out the PPHR webpage.
