Public Health Accreditation

The PHAB Standards and Measures document provides guidance for public health departments preparing for initial accreditation. This document assists health departments as they select documentation for each measure. It also directs the site visit team members in the review of documentation and in determining whether conformity with a measure is demonstrated. All health departments submitting their applications after June 3, 2014 will be reviewed under Standards and Measures Version 1.5.

When preparing for the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) application process, departments will review a statement listing principles by which the health department will abide, including an agreement to follow the guidelines of the PHAB accreditation program and a declaration of the accuracy of all information submitted. This statement includes the health department director’s assurance that the health department has an adopted, current (dated within the previous five years) community health assessment, community health improvement plan, and department strategic plan.
 

The Health Director must appoint an accreditation coordinator to oversee the accreditation process. Additionally, a multidisciplinary accreditation preparation team must be formed and, depending on size and structure of the LHD, consist of any combination of senior management, management, program staff, and frontline staff. The following resources are available to assist with forming the accreditation preparation team.

1. The Accreditation Coordinator is the person responsible for coordinating the application and accreditation process within the health department. PHAB has developed a guide that includes requirements for the Accreditation Coordinator and other considerations when selecting or appointing the staff person. You can access the handbook here (NOTE: this resource is for version 1.0).
2. This guide for local health departments walks through the principle steps in undertaking the process for collecting PHAB documentation including forming the accreditation preparation team, orienting staff to accreditation, gathering documentation, and identifying areas of strength and weakness.
3. Additionally, this guide for tribal health departments is intended to assist THD staff in undertaking a self-study process in a meaningful manner and in alignment with PHAB requirements. Like the LHD guide, on which it is based, it helps THDs identify strengths and uncover gaps in performance based on the PHAB standards and measures. This tool accompanies the guide. These tools were developed in collaboration with Red Star Innovations (NOTE: this resource is for version 1.0).

The Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department defines what people in any community can reasonably expect from their local governmental public health presence. It sets forth a series of standards based on the Ten Essential Public Health Services and serves as the framework for the standards of the national voluntary accreditation program operated by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

NACCHO supports voluntary accreditation for health departments through PHAB and encourages the use of the Operational Definition as an accreditation preparation tool. The functions outlined in this framework are directly aligned with the ten domains outlined in Part B of the PHAB standards. LHDs that assess the degree to which they fulfill the functions outlined in this framework and engage in capacity-building quality improvement activities will likely be better prepared for national accreditation. Beyond the launch of the national accreditation program, the Operational Definition will continue to remain valuable in defining the work of local public health practice.

• Who is eligible to apply for PHAB accreditation? View PHAB's guidelines for Eligibility.
• What does it cost to apply for PHAB accreditation? View the https://phaboard.org/accreditation-recognition/fees/.
• Hear from health departments who have applied for initial accreditation in NACCHO's archived Journeys to accreditation webinar.
• PHAB's guide to public health accreditation

Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) 2.0 and Public Health Accreditation Crosswalk 

The Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) redesign was perfectly timed to coincide with the evolution of other national public health frameworks and initiatives, such as the 10 Essential Public Health Services, Healthy People 2030, and the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) Standards and Measures Version 2022. MAPP is named within the PHAB Standards and Measures Version 2022 as a suitable model that local health departments (LHDs) can use to help achieve various activities required for accreditation due to the framework’s focus on alignment with the 10 Essential Public Health Services. This crosswalk highlights areas within the MAPP 2.0 guidance that can be used to meet the required activities, and obtain the required documentation, for the following domains within the PHAB Standards and Measures for Initial Accreditation Version 2022. Access the crosswalk here.

Crosswalk on Public Health Accreditation and Retail Program Standards 2.0

NACCHO's Retail Food Safety Team has updated the Crosswalk on Public Health Accreditation and Retail Program Standards, originally published in 2015, after discussion with partners nationwide. This publication provides valuable information for local, state, tribal, and territorial public health agencies seeking to align certain documents, processes, policies, procedures, and training programs established as part of their FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards enrollment with the broader PHAB Standards and Measures.

Project Public Health Ready & Public Health Accreditation Crosswalk

The purpose of this document is to demonstrate the alignment between Project Public Health Ready criteria (Version 9) and the Public Health Accreditation Board Standards and Measures (version 1.5).

Crosswalk between Public Health Accreditation and Health Impact Assessment

This document describes how health impact assessment (HIA) can be used as a tool for local health departments to promote community health improvement while contributing to documentation that demonstrates conformity to the Public Health Accreditation Board’s Standards and Measures 1.5.