Project Public Health Ready (PPHR)
Public health emergencies can strike without warning, and every moment counts in protecting our communities. Local health departments (LHDs) are on the frontlines—leading the charge in preparedness, supporting rapid responses, and driving recovery efforts to keep communities safe and resilient.
Results from the 2022 Preparedness Profile, a nationally representative survey to gather key insights and information about preparedness trends and emerging issues at LHDs, found that there was a significant increase in preparedness coordinators (or other equivalent positions) with less than two years of experience. Additionally:
- 32% of LHDs reported training gaps in all-hazards planning; 27% reported gaps in exercise planning, and 16% reported training gaps in partnership development.
- LHDs were more likely to report having good to fair relationships with key community partners such as faith-based, volunteer, and community-based organizations.
- Up to 50% of LHDs noted that while they were very concerned about common public health emergencies such as medical supply chain interruptions and extreme weather events only 13% felt very prepared for them.
NACCHO's Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) supports local health departments in overcoming these challenges. This recognition program offers LHDs a systematic approach to evaluate their capacity and capability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.
Since 2004, over 500 departments have earned recognition and built training and preparedness capacities using a continuous quality improvement model.
PPHR is a nationally recognized, criteria-based training and recognition program developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is designed to help local health departments (LHDs) develop core public health and emergency preparedness competencies.
How PPHR Builds Local Health Department Capacity
This robust 18-month program offers a structured, purposeful approach to strengthening training and preparedness capacity through a model of continuous quality improvement. Participating health departments develop or update their comprehensive, all-hazards response plan to align with the highest national standards, including CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) capabilities and the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) Standards and Measures.
How PPHR Strengthens the Governmental Public Health System
PPHR aims to fully integrate LHDs into the broader preparedness and response community. It fosters collaboration across internal teams and with local, state, federal, and community response partners to strengthen coordination and planning. Health departments that successfully complete the program earn PPHR recognition, valid for five years.
Program Goals
Starting with the 2026 PPHR cycle, the application and process has been revised to reflect the evolving public health landscape. Through PPHR recognition, health departments work toward achieving the following goals:
- Goal 1: Engage Whole Community
- Goal 2: Plan for All-Hazards Preparedness
- Goal 3: Maintain Plans and Procedures for Public Health Threats
- Goal 4: Maintain Plans and Procedures for Recovery
- Goal 5: Develop Workforce Capacity
- Goal 6: Conduct Quality Improvement
New application cycle materials are available in September of every year.
PPHR's Vision
Local health departments are fully prepared and seamlessly integrated into the emergency response system to protect and promote public health during all emergencies.
PPHR's Mission
To strengthen the nation’s public health preparedness infrastructure by building the capacity and capability of local health departments—through collaboration with state partners—to plan, train, and exercise using a sustainable, continuous improvement model.
Colorado
Alamosa County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Baca County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Bent County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Boulder County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2009
Year Recognition Expires: 2014
Colorado
Broomfield County Health and Human Services
Year Recognized: 2009
Year Recognition Expires: 2014
Colorado
Chaffee County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Cheyenne County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Clear Creek County Public and Environmental Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Community Health Services, Inc.
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Conejos County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Costilla County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Custer County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Delta County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Denver Health
Year Recognized: 2008
Year Recognition Expires: 2013
Colorado
Dolores County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Eagle County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
El Paso County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022
Year Recognition Expires: 2027
Colorado
Elbert County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017
Colorado
Garfield County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Grand County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Gunnison County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Hinsdale County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Jackson County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Jefferson County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2008
Year Recognition Expires: 2013
Colorado
Kiowa County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Kit Carson County Health and Human Services
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Lake County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017
Colorado
Lincoln County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Mesa County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2008, 2013
Year Recognition Expires: 2018
Colorado
Mineral County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Montezuma County Public Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Montrose County Health and Human Services
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Northeast Colorado Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (NWVNA)
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Otero County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017
Colorado
Ouray County Public Health Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Park County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Prowers County Public Health Nursing Service Agency
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Pueblo City-County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Rio Blanco County Department of Public Health and Environment
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Rio Grande County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
Saguache County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
San Juan Basin Public Health
Year Recognized: 2012, 2017
Year Recognition Expires: 2022
Colorado
San Juan County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
Colorado
San Miguel County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Summit County Public Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011, 2026
Year Recognition Expires: 2030
Colorado
Teller County Public Health
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
Colorado
Tri-County Health Department
Year Recognized: 2011, 2016
Year Recognition Expires: 2022
Colorado
Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Alamosa County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
|
| Baca County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Bent County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Boulder County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2009
Year Recognition Expires: 2014
|
| Broomfield County Health and Human Services |
Year Recognized: 2009
Year Recognition Expires: 2014
|
| Chaffee County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010 Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Cheyenne County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Clear Creek County Public and Environmental Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Community Health Services, Inc. |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Conejos County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Costilla County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Custer County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Delta County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Denver Health |
Year Recognized: 2008
Year Recognition Expires: 2013 |
| Dolores County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Eagle County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| El Paso County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2007, 2012, 2017, 2022
Year Recognition Expires: 2027 |
| Elbert County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment |
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017 |
| Garfield County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Grand County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Gunnison County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Hinsdale County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Jackson County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Jefferson County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2008
Year Recognition Expires: 2013
|
| Kiowa County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Kit Carson County Health and Human Services |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015
|
| Lake County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Larimer County Department of Health and Environment |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017 |
| Lincoln County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Mesa County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2008, 2013
Year Recognition Expires: 2018 |
| Mineral County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Montezuma County Public Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Montrose County Health and Human Services |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Northeast Colorado Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (NWVNA) |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Otero County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017
|
| Ouray County Public Health Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Park County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Prowers County Public Health Nursing Service Agency |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Pueblo City-County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016
|
| Rio Blanco County Department of Public Health and Environment |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Rio Grande County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| Saguache County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| San Juan Basin Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2012, 2017
Year Recognition Expires: 2022 |
| San Juan County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2011
Year Recognition Expires: 2016 |
| San Miguel County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Summit County Public Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011, 2026 Year Recognition Expires: 2030 |
| Teller County Public Health |
Year Recognized: 2010
Year Recognition Expires: 2015 |
| Tri-County Health Department |
Year Recognized: 2011, 2016
Year Recognition Expires: 2022 |
| Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment |
Year Recognized: 2012
Year Recognition Expires: 2017 |
- Sign up for the Preparedness Brief Digest Monthly Newsletter
- Contact the PPHR team at [email protected]