Project Public Health Ready (PPHR)

NACCHO recognizes that not all local health department are structured in the same way or are at the same level of readiness. Prospective applications should download the three (3) types of resources below to help them better understand their readiness in applying to PPHR.

For more information about starting the application process, please contact [email protected].

For the 2025 cycle, applicants will be able to submit their Intent to Apply Forms and Part 1 Payments beginning on Monday September 20, 2024, and will have until Thursday, October 31, 2024, to finalize their submissions.

To review the Project Public Health Ready application criteria for the 2025 review cycle, see below:

First-time Applicant Criteria (version 10.0)

• Application in Word | Application in PDF
• Criteria 10.0 FAQ
  
• Intent to Apply Form*
• Application Signature Form (available on 05/01/2025)

Re-recognition Criteria (version 5.0)

• Application in Word / Application in PDF**
• Criteria 5.0 FAQ
• Intent to Apply Form*
• Application Signature Form (available on 05/01/2025)

Support Response Agency (SRA) Criteria (version 2.0)

• Application in Word / Application in PDF
• Intent to Apply Form*
• Application Signature Form (available on 05/01/2025)

*Note: Please use the following guidance document for instructions on how to complete and submit the Intent to Apply form and generate the Part 1 Invoice.

**Note: For those applying for Re-Recognition, it's highly recommended to use a First-Time application if your LHD has been through significant changes.

Note: Instructions for payment including how to generate an invoice or to pay by credit card can be found by clicking here.

Applicants and their State Lead should submit an Intent to Apply form to NACCHO by October 31, 2023. To review the Project Public Health Ready application criteria for the 2024 review cycle, see below:

First-time Applicant Criteria (version 10.0)

• Application in Word | Application in PDF
• Criteria 10.0 FAQ
  
• Intent to Apply Form (CLOSED)
• Application Signature Form (CLOSED)

Re-recognition Criteria (version 5.0)

• Application in Word / Application in PDF
• Criteria 5.0 FAQ
• Intent to Apply Form (CLOSED)
• Application Signature Form (CLOSED)

Support Response Agency (SRA) Criteria (version 2.0)

• Application in Word / Application in PDF
• Intent to Apply Form (CLOSED)
• Application Signature Form (CLOSED)

Note: Click here to view the PDF Guide for filling out the Application Signature Form.

Everything applicants need to successfully apply for PPHR recognition can be found in NACCHO's Virtual Communities. This includes downloadable resources such as recommended resources, submission guidelines, calendars, reviewer training, criteria FAQs and more.

To join Virtual Communities, users must have a naccho.org account. Once a user account is established, members can visit NACCHO's Virtual Communities and search for the "Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) Applicant" group to join.

Click the links below to access NACCHO's Virtual Communities site, create a NACCHO account and download the guide on how to use the Virtual Community platform. For assistance with joining the Virtual Community group, please email [email protected].

• NACCHO Virtual Communities Site
• NACCHO Account Home
• Virtual Communities User Guide

NACCHO’s Toolbox is a free, online collection of public health tools and resources that have been created and shared by members of the public health community. These tools and resources can further be refined by categorized ‘toolkits'. Tools related to the PPHR application can be searched by simply choosing ‘PPHR toolkits’ in the drop-down box.

Accessing tools in NACCHO’s Toolbox will require the same naccho.org account from above.

Since 2004, more than 500 LHDs have been recognized as meeting all the PPHR requirements individually or working collaboratively as a region, all of which are identified in the map below. To view which agencies have been recognized in each state, click the respective state.

1. What is PPHR?
2. Is PPHR an accreditation?
3. When did PPHR begin?
4. How is PPHR funded?
5. What agencies have been recognized by PPHR?
6. How long does recognition last?
7. Why should I apply for PPHR? What are the benefits of applying?
8. Is there a cost to applying? What does that fee cover?
9. Is my health agency eligible to apply for PPHR recognition?
10. How do I apply for PPHR?
11. What is the application timeline? Can I apply anytime?
12. What assistance will I receive with my application?
13. Why do I need a State Lead?
14. Where can I download the PPHR application criteria?
15. Who reviews the PPHR applications? How do I become an application reviewer?
16. Do you have any informational materials to share?
17. Are there any applicant success stories?
18. Will NACCHO come to my agency/city/state and present on PPHR?
19. My agency was previously recognized. Which application do I fill out to be re-recognized?
20. Who do I contact if I have more information?

Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a criteria-based training and recognition program created by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (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 a structure to build training and preparedness capacity using a continuous quality improvement model.

PPHR is a recognition program administered by NACCHO. It is a collaborative activity between NACCHO and the CDC. NACCHO is the only entity that can provide recognition for Project Public Health Ready (PPHR).

PPHR began in 2003.

PPHR is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Click on the 'Map' tab on the PPHR webpage to see an expansive list of current and past PPHR recognized agencies.

PPHR recognition lasts for a period of five (5) years. Prior to a LHD's recognition expiring, an agency is eligible to apply for re-recognition, also for five (5) years, which has its own criteria.

The benefits of being PPHR recognized include:

• Demonstrate your agency’s commitment to preparedness and a return on investment of federal and state funding.
• Provides a framework to ensure that public health preparedness is meeting national standards.
• Create a distinction among other health departments and agencies.
• Drive internal continuous quality improvement and build a culture of collaboration among LHD staff.
• Strengthen community and other stakeholder partnerships and increase confidence in your agency’s preparedness capability.
• Demonstrate your agency’s alignment with federal initiatives including CDC’s public health preparedness capabilities, National Incident Management System (NIMS), the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), and the National Health Security Strategy’s Biennial Implementation Plan.
• Strengthen working relationships and improve integration and collaboration within the preparedness community by working with response partners to develop and enhance plans and processes.
• Drive plan updates and allow department staff to become more familiar with their emergency preparedness plans.
• Grants LHDs credibility and visibility through national recognition endorsed by the CDC and NACCHO.
• Grants access to knowledgeable peers for review and comment on performance.
• Showcase your organization competitiveness for recruitment of high-level staff.
• Prepares LHDs for other recognition programs (i.e. PHAB, CDC’s ORR).

The fee for applicants applying for the first time or without current PPHR recognition status (i.e., status has expired or lapsed) is $5,000. The fee for applicants pursuing re-recognition using the re-recognition criteria is $2,500. Currently, CDC allows the use of PHEP funding to pay for PPHR application fees.

The fee supports a designated point of contact to provide technical assistance on the application process, beginning when the Intent to Apply Form is submitted and ending with the submission of an application, and the following services:

• Orientation and training for all state leads and national reviewers at the start of each application cycle;
• Travel and expenses for an in-person meeting for national reviewers to conduct application reviews;
• Associated IT costs, such as conference calls with state leads, applicants, and national reviewers as well as software and server space used for application submission, review, and storage;
• A public recognition reception for newly PPHR-recognized or re-recognized agencies at the annual Preparedness Summit hosted by NACCHO;
• Recognition materials, including plaques presented to PPHR-recognized agencies at the annual recognition reception;
• Annual updates that highlight unique funding opportunities, success stories, and information on the newest federal guidance and national initiatives that support PPHR re-recognition.
  

The governmental entity that has the primary statutory or legal responsibility for public health in a Tribe or at the local level is eligible to apply for PPHR recognition. To be eligible, such entities must operate in a manner consistent with applicable federal, Tribal, state, territorial, and local statutes.

A health department must meet one of the following definitions to apply for PPHR recognition:

Local Health Department

An LHD is defined, for the purposes of PPHR recognition, as the governmental body serving a jurisdiction or group of jurisdictions geographically smaller than a state and recognized as having the primary statutory authority to promote and protect the public’s health and prevent disease in humans. This authority is defined by the state’s constitution, statute, or regulations or established by local ordinance or through formal local cooperative agreement or mutual aid. The entity may be a locally governed health department, a local entity of a centralized state health department, or a city, city-county, county, district, or regional health department.

Tribal Health Department

A Tribal health department is defined, for the purposes of PPHR recognition, as a federally recognized Tribal government, Tribal organization, or inter-Tribal consortium, as defined in the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act, as amended. Such departments have jurisdictional authority to provide public health services, as evidenced by constitution, resolution, ordinance, executive order, or other legal means, intended to promote and protect the Tribe’s overall health, wellness and safety; prevent disease; and respond to issues and events. Federally recognized Tribal governments may carry out the above public health functions in a cooperative manner through formal agreement, formal partnership, or formal collaboration.

Regional Health Department

Any eligible local or Tribal health departments, as defined above, may apply jointly for PPHR recognition if certain essential services are provided by formally sharing resources, and the manner in which this occurs is clearly demonstrated. The formal resource-sharing must be centralized in a regional agency, and that agency must hold primary responsibility for public health response activities at the local level. Interested entities should refer to the Regional Guidance Document.

Support Response Agency

The support response agency criteria are intended for those agencies whose lead role during a response is to support those serving as primary operational response agencies. If you believe your agency may qualify as a support response agency, please fill out the pre-application checklist and send it to [email protected] to facilitate a discussion of the most appropriate criteria version.

To start the PPHR application process, contact your state lead, or if you are unsure who your state lead is, contact [email protected] for help.

The PPHR application development process occurs on a fixed yearly cycle. Eligible applicants should aim to express their interest early to provide maximum flexibility regarding the application cycle in which they apply. Generally, the start of a PPHR Cycle starts with an interested LHD completing an ‘Intent to Apply’ form.

This form will open up on our website in September and close at the end of October of the year prior to the cycle (e.g., Sept 2024-Oct 2024 starts the 2025 PPHR Cycle, Sept 2025-Oct 2025 starts the 2026 PPHR Cycle, and so on).

An 'Intent to Apply' form must be filled out for each cycle a LHD applies to, including if they deferred the year prior and have let the PPHR team know of interest in applying through other means. This form serves as a means of tracking applicants to be certain they receive all the resources they need to be successful in the program.

Please review the Process Guide for general information regarding the PPHR timeline.

NACCHO supports applicants and state leads through the application process by providing technical assistance throughout the application period, including providing an initial orientation, participating in periodic conference calls, and maintaining regular communication with state leads.

The state lead plays a critical role as the primary point of contact for both agencies applying for recognition as well as for NACCHO. NACCHO relies heavily on the role of the state lead to maintain the capacity of the program. A state lead is often, but not always, an individual at the state level that aids applicants in coordinating necessary steps of the PPHR application each cycle.

If you are not certain if your state has a lead, email [email protected] to find out.

Click on the ‘Current Applicants’ tab of the PPHR webpage to find all current application materials.

PPHR national reviewers are selected by the PPHR staff for their strong understanding of local public health preparedness and response. Most are local health department personnel and include preparedness planners, first responders, exercise and training coordinators, and epidemiologists. Qualified candidates from state health departments and other organizations may also be reviewers. All reviewers must attend an orientation and training webinar and complete a brief training assessment to demonstrate their understanding of the PPHR review process and criteria, as well as scoring and commenting procedures.

National Reviewers for each review cycle will be selected from the list of interested individuals based on the following criteria:

• No affiliation with any application that is under review in the current cycle (this includes both applicants and state leads);
• Agreement of all reviewer responsibilities;
• Previous PPHR experience as a national reviewer (for lead and primary reviewers);
• Public health preparedness experience, particularly on the local level;
• Applicant's current position and its relationship to public health preparedness;
• Whether the reviewer’s state or local health department is pursuing or interested in pursuing PPHR recognition;
• Involvement in developing or contributing to a past PPHR application; and
• Diversity of geography and professional background.

National Reviewer applications close around the last week of June each year and selections are conducted shortly thereafter. Reviewer recruitment starts around April of each year. Interested in becoming a National Reviewer? Click here to fill out a form to receive an email informing you when applications open up.

Note: National Reviewers receive no compensation from NACCHO for their participation.

The PPHR flyer can be viewed here.

To hear about the experiences from past applicants, download the audio file below:

• Applicant Success Story #1
• Applicant Success Story #2

Possibly! Reach out to [email protected] for potential coordination.

If your agency currently holds PPHR recognition, you are eligible to use the re-recognition criteria before your current recognition expires.

For example, if your agency has been recognized for the five (5)-year period of 2018-2023, you will begin the re-recognition process in September 2022. This will mean that your agency will be a part of the 2023 Cohort. If successfully re-recognized, your agency will continue to be recognized for another five (5) years (2023-2028).

Note that regardless of your current recognition status, applicants always are eligible to use the first-time application at any time.

For any questions or concerns, contact the PPHR team by emailing [email protected].