Accreditation Preparation and Quality Improvement

Since 2008, NACCHO has provided funding for local health departments to further their work with accreditation preparation and quality improvement. This funding has been made available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

Below is a list of all of NACCHO's Accreditation Preparation and Quality Improvement Demonstration Sites.


Demonstration Sites

Jefferson County Department of Health

The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) is located in central Alabama and serves an urban-rural population of 656,700. JCDH implemented an e-mail list serve to improve efficiency for internal communications as they prepare for accreditation and external communication within the local public health system. As a result, 217 subscribers joined the list serve, representing approximately 120 agencies and organizations.

PDF Case Study
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Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services (AK)

The Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is located in Alaska's largest urban center in the South central region of the state. The department serves a population of approximately 280,000 and is one of only two communities in the state that provides local public health. The DHHS identified evaluation and data capacity as important priorities for the department, and selected the Reproductive Health Clinic (RHC) and HIV Opt-Out Testing Program to apply a quality improvement process to improve HIV testing rates. As a result, the department was successful in getting improved participation in HIV testing, with 31% more clients being tested at the RHC.

Anchorage Storyboard
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Anchorage Appendicies
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Anchorage Case Example
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Coconino County Health Department

The Coconino County Health Department (CCHD) is located in North Central Arizona and primarily serves a population of nearly 125,000. CCHD focused on engaging the community to identify and solve health problems as it applies to Williams, AZ, as well as evaluating the delivery of health services to the Williams community. As a result of this project, CCHD developed a community health profile that details general census and vital statistics information, and prioritizes health concerns among the entire community.

Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

Funded to provide quality improvement training for tribal health departments; conduct a tribal/state/federal accreditation roundtable; and provide targeted technical assistance to three tribal HDs.

City of Pasadena Health Department

Funded to complete a community health improvement plan; produce a performance measurement plan; and develop a comprehensive plan for reviewing laws and documentation examples.

County of San Diego Health and Human Services Public Health Services

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Public Health Services (SDHHS) serves the urban, suburban, and rural populations of metro San Diego. SDHHS was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. SDHHS’s goal was to adapt a formal language interpretation policy for public health centers and clinics and increase staff knowledge of providing services to non-English speaking clients.

Fresno County Department of Public Health

Funded to develop and implement a functioning performance/quality management system and complete documentation needed for Domain 9.1. The health department will also share these learnings and provide related technical assistance to other LHDs in their jurisdiction.

Orange County Health Department

Funded to complete a community health assessment using the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships framework; a quality improvement plan; and provide quality improvement training to staff.

Public Health Institute

Funded to provide targeted technical assistance to two California LHDs and conduct two statewide teleconference accreditation sharing sessions.

Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (CA)

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (SCHSA) is located in Central California and serves a population of approximately 525,000. SCHSA worked on several areas as part of a new strategic planning process, which included workforce development, public health marketing and media communications, communication of health data availability, and evaluation and improvement of public health programs.

Denver Health & Hospital Authority

Funded to hire a quality improvement coordinator; establish the infrastructure and complete planning for an agency performance management system; and finalize a quality improvement plan. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

Quality Improvement Plan 2013
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Performance Management Self-Assessment 2013
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Final Report
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City of Milford Health Department

The City of Milford Health Department (CMHD) is located in Milford, CT, and aims to prevent disease and promote a healthier environment for all citizens through provision of quality services. CMHD focused on improving the department's capacity to conduct periodic community health assessments. CMHD staff and community stakeholders were trained on the importance of community health assessments and quality improvement to increase knowledge of assessment processes, and to brainstorm potential priority areas for the community.

Naugatuck-Pomperaug Collaborative

The Naugatuck-Pomperaug Collaborative consists of the Naugatuck Valley Health District and the Pomperaug District Department of Health, which are located in Western Connecticut, and serves a combined population of 167,241. The collaborative established a Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA) that outlines a strategy for developing standard operating procedures and sharing resources when outbreak investigations exceed local capacities.

Norwalk Health Department

Funded to complete a workforce development plan; complete the agency strategic plan; develop a performance management system; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department applied for accreditation in May, 2013; this funding supported payment of the PHAB fee.

Town of Stratford Health Department

Funded to develop and implement a systematic process for reviewing and revising documentation for PHAB and apply to PHAB by May 31, 2014; this funding will support payment of up to 50% of the PHAB fee.

Levy County Health Department

The Levy County Health Department (LCHD) is located in the heart of North Florida and serves a primarily rural population of 40,000. LCHD chose to enhance its capacity to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of all local programs and activities, and use the information to improve performance and community health outcomes. Specifically, the Department focused on improving the timeliness and accuracy of its animal bite reporting process.

Miami-Dade County Health Department

The Miami-Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) is part of Florida’s centralized system and is the only health department serving metro Miami’s large population. MDCHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. MDCHD’s goal was to decrease the percentage of clients in the Family Planning clinic with wait times greater than two hours by improving the scheduling process. 

Okaloosa County Health Department

The Okaloosa County Health Department (OCHD) is located in Northwest Florida and serves both an urban and rural population of 190,000. OCHD focused on improving media communications by developing a comprehensive communications plan that includes a master communications calendar; plans for routine and risk communication; and an electronic database to track media and stakeholder requests and outcomes. As a result of the plan, OCHD is now able to track trends in media requests and better utilize the media to communicate with the public and stakeholders.

Osceola County Health Department

The Osceola County Health Department (OsCHD) is located in East Central Florida, and serves a combined urban and rural population of approximately 260,000. OsCHD addressed workforce competencies as an area for improvement by enhancing the Department's program of continuing education for staff to increase their public health skills and knowledge.

Pinellas County Health Department

The Pinellas County Health Department (PCHD) is located in Southern Florida and serves a primarily urban population of about 943,000. PCHD focused on the issue of access to primary care, and developed a quality improvement process to increase access to care by removing rigid guidelines for determining patient eligibility. As a result, more services are now provided to clients who may not have previously qualified.

Public Health - North Central District

The public health division of the Idaho North Central District was funded to establish a formal quality improvement (QI) program with a written plan and a documentation process for QI activities, and train staff in core QI principles.

Final Report
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QI Plan
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QI Policy
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Kane County Health Department

The Kane County Health Department (KCHD) serves a population of 550,000 in an urban-suburban area of Illinois about 35 miles west of Chicago. KCHD identified staff expertise and training on collecting, managing integration of, and displaying data as an area for improvement. They then developed a community-tailored and user-friendly template to display collected data that relates to the community action plan goal of reducing maternal-child health disparities in Kane County.

Mid-America Center for Public Health Practice at the University of Illinois-Chicago

Funded to produce a report on factors contributing to Illinois LHDs' ability to address Domain 8; develop a comprehensive online Accreditation Workforce Development Toolkit; and provide targeted technical assistance on workforce development to three Illinois LHDs.

St. Clair County Health Department

Funded to complete the application process to PHAB. The health department applied for accreditation by May, 2013; this funding supported payment of the PHAB fee.

Iowa Department of Public Health

The Iowa Department of Public Health was funded to conduct formative research to identify current practices of Iowa LHDs relating to their performance management systems, and provide technical assistance on how current activities may either be formalized or adjusted to meet PHAB standards. Findings will be used to inform the development of a performance management curriculum for all of Iowa’s LHDs.

Lee County Health Department

The Lee County Health Department (LCHD) is located in Southeast Iowa and serves a primarily rural population of about 36,336. LCHD focused on the agency's capacity to provide health information to individuals for behavior change within the agency's Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program. LCHD created an information packet for marketing MCH services to medical providers to raise awareness of available services, and link additional families and children to needed healthcare systems.

East Central Kansas Public Health Coalition

The East Central Kansas Public Health Coalition consists of the Chase, Coffey, Franklin, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage, and Wabaunsee County Health Departments and spans an area of 6,240 square miles, serving a combined population of 110,886.  The coalition developed a strategic plan to address gaps in knowledge of community health assessments and the use of data collected across the counties.

Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department (LDCHD) is a joint city-county health department located in Lawrence, KS and serves a semi-urban population of 112,000. LDCHD focused on improving formal and informal opportunities for communicating with the media and responding to media requests, along with routing communication to raise awareness of public health issues. This also included educating staff about how to incorporate core service messages in department communications.

Norton County Health Department

The Norton County Health Department (NCHD) serves a very small population in northwest Kansas. NCHD served as a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. NCHD’s goal was to increase staff knowledge of disease investigation through training.

Sedgwick County Health Department

Funded to complete a community health improvement plan and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department applied for accreditation in May 2013; this funding supported payment of the PHAB fee.

Franklin County Health Department

Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) serves Kentucky’s capital, Frankfort, and its surrounding urban, suburban and rural areas. FCHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. FCHD’s goal was to streamline repair request process to ensure clean, safe, accessible and secure facilities.

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMDPHW) provides essential health services to the rural and urban populations of 701,500 persons residing in the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro area of Kentucky. LMDPHW assessed the comprehension of health information of graduates of the Cooper Clayton Smoking Cessation Program.

Madison County Health Department

Madison County Health Department was funded to update and complete the agency’s strategic plan, establish and maintain electronic documentation storage processes, and pay part of the PHAB application fees. The health department applied for accreditation in Spring 2012.

Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department

The Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department (NKIDHD) serves four counties in Northern Kentucky and serves a population of more than 370,000. NKIDHD developed a database that included approval for training and out-of-state travel, which combined and eliminated two paper forms by utilizing one online process. As a result, the new database is easier to use and requires less time than the previous approval process.

New Orleans Health Department

Funded to complete an agency strategic plan; develop a performance management system; complete communication policies; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department applied for accreditation in early 2013; this funding supported payment of the PHAB fee.

New Orleans Health Department Final Report
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Documentation of Process to Develop Strategic Plan
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Communications and Branding Policy
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Communications Manual
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City of Portland, Public Health Division

The City of Portland’s Public Health Division (CPPHD) serves an urban, suburban and rural population in Maine and is the only comprehensive public health department in the state. CPPHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. CPPHD’s goal was to decrease no-show rates at an HIV clinic by enhancing the process for updating patient information update forms.

Final Report
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Storyboard
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Appendices
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Baltimore City Health Department

Funded to complete the community health assessment and improvement plan; complete the agency strategic plan; and implement and electronic documentation storage process. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a small LHD in their jurisdiction.

Worcester County Health Department

The Worcester County Health Department was funded to complete and publish the three PHAB prerequisites, complete documentation of compliance with PHAB standards, and increase staff competencies related to identifying PHAB documentation needs. The health department applied for accreditation in spring 2012.

Boston Public Health Commission

Funded to produce an accreditation readiness assessment/gap analysis; complete a written roadmap for addressing accreditation requirements; and support progress toward completing a community health improvement plan and quality improvement plan. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a small LHD in their jurisdiction.

Northampton Health Department and Quabbin Health District (MA)

The Northampton Health Department (NHD) and the Quabbin Health District (QHD) serve two small communities in Massachusetts. NHD and QHD acted together as a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. Their joint goal was to address citizen complaints about environmental health issues by consistently obtaining customer satisfaction data and educating consumers about LHD functions.

Berrien County Health Department

The Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) is located in the southwest corner of the lower peninsula of Michigan and serves a population of 162,000. BCHD chose to address evaluation as an area for improvement and developed a strategic planning process intended to enhance the department's capacity for evaluating and improving programs by setting goals and a plan to monitor progress.

Central Michigan District Health Department

The Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) is a six-county district in the North Central area of the lower peninsula of Michigan. CMDHD serves Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties with a combined population of over 191,000. By implementing quality improvement (QI) agency-wide, CMDHD developed: an agency QI plan; a process to accurately account for family planning supplies that are received in clinics and dispensed to clients; a process to increase the adherence of taking prescribed HIV medications by HIV+ individuals enrolled in CMDHD's HIV Continuum of Care Program; and a process to annually review critical food violation rates and how they can be reduced.

Genesee County Health Department

The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) is located in Southeast Michigan and serves a diverse urban and rural population of approximately 439,000. GCHD chose to improve the documentation process of staff trainings, and as a result of a quality improvement project, the process now accurately documents an increased number of trainings and leadership development activities.

Ingham County Health Department

The Ingham County Health Department (ICHD) is located near the center of Michigan and serves a population of approximately 279,320. ICHD serves about 600 low-income mothers and their families through its Public Health Services Unit with the intent of improving birth outcomes and maternal and child health. Through a quality improvement process, the Public Health Services aimed to increase caseloads to reach and assist more low-income women and their families and to increase revenue from the delivery of billable services.

Kent County Health Department

Funded to develop a performance management system; provide quality improvement training to staff; and develop an organizational cultural competency policy. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013.

Saginaw County Department of Public Health

The Saginaw County Department of Public Health (SCDPH) is located in East Central Michigan and serves a population of about 210,000. SCDPH chose to focus on improving capacity to conduct or contribute expertise to periodic community health assessments by conducting staff training workshops and developing a future curriculum on assessment methods to increase appropriate knowledge of standards and processes for conducting a community health assessment.

Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health Department

Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HCHSPHD) serves Minnesota’s largest county, which includes the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. HCHSPHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. HCHSPHD’s goal was to improve the numbers of homeless residents using the homeless health clinic.

Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment

The Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) is located in Stillwater, MN, and serves a diverse and growing rural/urban population of 233,104. WCDPHE chose to address program evaluation capacity by using multiple quality improvement tools to solicit and analyze stakeholder feedback in order to evaluate the Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Vendor Compliance program.

Mercer-Putnam-Sullivan Public Health Regional Collaborative

The Mercer-Putnam-Sullivan Public Health Regional Collaborative consists of the Mercer, Putnam, and Sullivan County Health Departments, which serve a combined population of 15,552 in North-Central Missouri. The collaborative identified gaps in strategic planning and developed a community health improvement plan to address these gaps. The plan will also improve the capacity to communicate consistent messages about public health, health promotion, and disease prevention to the public.

Missouri Institute for Community Health

The Missouri Institute for Community Health was funded to provide technical assistance and consulting services, focused on strategic planning and quality improvement, to five Missouri LHDs preparing for PHAB accreditation. The five LHDs include: two rural LHDs that are accredited by MICH, two rural LHDS not accredited by MICH, and one semi-metro LHD not accredited by MICH.

Region G Collaborative

The Region G Collaborative consists of Carter, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas, and Wright County Health Departments, which covers 7,462 square miles and serves a combined population of 135,669 in South-Central Missouri. The collaborative engaged in strategic planning efforts to implement a community health improvement plan throughout the region based on community health assessments conducted by the county health departments.

St. Louis County Department of Public Health

The St. Louis County Department of Health was funded to begin working on a community health improvement plan based on the MAPP framework, draft a strategic plan for the department, and implement the first phase of a continuous performance management system.

Gallatin City County Health Department

Funded to develop a performance management system; complete an agency strategic plan; and provide accreditation training to agency staff.

Missoula City-County Health Department

The Missoula City-County Health Department was funded to support the accreditation coordinator position and pay part of the PHAB application fees. The health department applied for accreditation in spring 2012.

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) is located in the southeast corner of Nebraska and serves approximately 275,000 individuals in an urban and rural setting. LLCHD developed a database as part of a quality improvement project that connects the Operational Definition indicators and illustrative evidence to the department's existing databases and hard copy files. As a result, the department will proceed with pursuing national accreditation.

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

Funded to develop a mechanism for TribalTrack communications; train content area experts to use TribalTrack with tribal health departments; complete outreach sessions and train 17 tribal health department representatives; and modify and deliver an assessment tool to capture tribal health department education needs.

Public Health Solutions District Health Department

Public Health Solutions District Health Department (PHS), a newly formed health agency, serves a rural population in Nebraska. PHS was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. PHS’s goal was to develop and implement a comprehensive new employee orientation process.

Carson City Health and Human Services

Funded to plan and hold an 'Accreditation Kick-Off Day' for staff, governing entity and community members on the value of the accreditation and going through the accreditation preparation process. Created an internal documentation organization system, and complete a report on that system and results of documentation review, conducted by an external reviewer. Applied to PHAB by May 31, 2014; this funding will support payment of up to 50% of the PHAB fee.

Southern Nevada Health District

Southern Nevada Health District (which is home to the Las Vegas metropolitan area), was funded to receive training on and complete significant portions of the MAPP process that resulted in a completed first draft of the community health assessment.

City of Manchester Department of Health

The City of Manchester Department of Health (MDH) is located in the southeast corner of New Hampshire and serves a population of nearly 110,000. MDH developed a quality improvement project aimed at strengthening the department's communication of public health needs and priorities with elected officials. As a result of this project, the department has developed a monthly bulletin to highlight departmental activities and critical public health priorities for dissemination to the Mayor and Board of Alderman, the School Board, and the Board of Health.

Mascoma Valley Health Initiative

The Mascoma Valley Health Initiative (MVHI) is a non-profit public health organization located in the rural Mascoma Valley of New Hampshire and serves a population of 40,000. MVHI addressed the need for improved education around healthy behaviors and by targeting elementary age children and their families, MVHI implemented a new curriculum around nutrition as it relates to oral health.

Township of Bloomfield Department of Health & Human Services

The Township of Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services (BDHHS) is located in northeast New Jersey and serves the suburban and urban population of Bloomfield and Caldwell. BDHHS was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. BDHHS’s goal was to address the low turnout at its biannual Rabies clinics.

Montgomery Township Health Department

The Montgomery Township Health Department (MTHD) is located in Central New Jersey, serving a suburban population of 24,000. MTHD worked with its community partners to improve data collection in order to begin outcome-based evaluation. The community partners' task was to improve data collection on the utilization of low-cost clinical services in order to ensure that at-risk residents have access to these services. As a result, MTHD is developing expanded partnerships and outreach programs to assure that residents know how to access services offered by clinical partners.

Morris Regional Public Health Partnership

The Morris Regional Public Health Partnership, Inc. consists of the Denville Township, Randolph Township, and Rockaway Township Health Departments, which are three municipal health departments in Northern New Jersey serving a combined population of 64,000. The partnership created a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which specified that the three health departments would participate in a collaborative planning process to implement improvements to health education programs.

Livingston County Department of Health

The Livingston County Department of Health (LCDH) is located in upstate New York and serves a rural population of 65,000. LCDH focused on improving fundamental competencies for all staff by developing a unified performance appraisal process flow chart and communicating agency position competencies to all staff.

New York State Association of County Health Officials

The New York State Association of County Health Officials was funded to provide technical assistance to facilitate and complete a strategic planning process in four model LHDs of different sizes and types. These strategic plans will serve as models for the other 54 LHDs in New York state served by this organization.

St. Lawrence County Health Department

Funded to complete an agency strategic and written protocol for reviewing/updating the plan.

Tioga County Health Department

The Tioga County Health Department (TCHD) is located in southwestern New York and serves a rural population. TCHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. TCHD’s goal was to improve the timeliness of communications between Environmental Health and Clinical Divisions regarding human rabies exposures.

Cabarrus Health Alliance

The Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), an independent governmental entity, is located in central North Carolina and serves a suburban, urban and rural population of 175,000. CHA was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. BDHHS’s goal was to address the area of verification and documentation of RN licensure with policy and procedure clarification and staff education.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Funded to complete a Tribal community health assessment and an agency strategic plan. Deliverables and documentation submitted during this initiative:

Central Valley Health District

The Central Valley Health District (CVHD) serves two predominantly rural counties in North Dakota. CVHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. CVHD’s goal was to improve data collection for environmental health services.

North Dakota State Association of County and City Health Officials

Funded to provide technical assistance on accreditation preparation to 13 local health departments in North Dakota.

Valley City-County Health District

The Valley City-County Health District (VHD) is a small, single-county public health unit located in Eastern North Dakota and serves a rural population of approximately 10,775. VHD noted a need to improve data collection and management processes, and enhanced a logging system to allow for the tracking of office visits, phone calls, and in-office service payments in order to make annual program evaluations more efficient.

Columbus Public Health

Funded to develop processes related to implementation of the community health improvement plan and developing competency-based job descriptions; finalize a workforce development plan and training curriculum plan; and update its quality improvement training plan. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction, and will develop a start-up kit to help LHDs just beginning the accreditation process. The health department applied for accreditation in 2012.

Cuyahoga County Board of Health

Funded to complete significant portions of the community health improvement process and develop documentation for several PHAB domains. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to a smaller LHD in their jurisdiction.

Erie County Health Department

Funded to complete a community health improvement plan and an agency strategic plan; design an example process for reviewing, dating and signing documentation for PHAB; and conduct a gap analysis of strengths and weaknesses in documentation across the domains. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by May 1, 2013.

Franklin County Board of Health

The Franklin County Board of Health (FCBOH) serves a growing suburban area of approximately 400,000 surrounding Columbus, OH. FCBOH focused on engaging and informing elected officials to increase the awareness of public health priorities. Specifically, FCBOH developed a monthly e-newsletter for the Franklin County Commissioners to offer timely and consistent information on public health issues.

Henry County Health Department

Funded to create and implement an electronic documentation storage system and preparation process, and develop a list of possible documentation for Domains 1-12. The health department plans to apply for accreditation by July 1, 2013.

Logan-Hocking County Health District

The Logan-Hocking County Health District (LHCHD) is located in the Appalachian region of Southeastern Ohio and serves a population of approximately 29,000. LHCHD focused on improving staff education to increase health promotion knowledge and skills in order to be more effective at health fairs and booths.

Mahoning County District Board of Health

The Mahoning County District Board of Health (MCDBoH) is the 12th largest of Ohio’s 130 health departments. MCDBoH was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. MCDBoH’s goal was to reduce the time it takes for conducting septic and well inspections generated by real estate transactions. 

Summit County Combined General Health District

The Summit County Combined General Health District (SCCGHD) serves a population of approximately 297,000 in the suburban area around Akron in Northeast Ohio. SCCGHD used quality improvement techniques to improve the accurate transfer of telephone calls from the public, which was a problem that transcended all areas of the agency.

Cherokee Nation Health Services

Cherokee Nation is the second largest tribe in the United States, with a population of almost 400,000 and a jurisdictional area spanning over 14 counties and 7,000 square miles in Northeast Oklahoma. Cherokee Nation Health Services mobilized the agency to plan for accreditation in five years and to integrate quality improvement into the agency's 2009–2013 Strategic Goals and Objectives.

Comanche County Health Department

The Comanche County Health Department (CCHD) is located in southwest Oklahoma and serves a mixed urban and rural population which includes three tribes and the residents of a major military post. CCHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. CCHD’s goal was to improve community sector participation in the community health assessment process.

Logan County Health Department

The Logan County Health Department (LCHD) is located in Central Oklahoma and serves a rural population of approximately 33,924. LCHD chose to improve its capacity to evaluate programs in order to create a sustainable evaluation system that analyzes programs across the department.

Tulsa City-County Health Department

The Tulsa City-County Health Department (THD) is located in Northeastern Oklahoma and serves an urban and rural population of almost 600,000. THD developed a uniform approach to systematically incorporate quality improvement into the daily activities and planning for each program in the agency through QI trainings for staff.

Wagoner County Health Department

The Wagoner County Health Department (WCHD) is located in Eastern Oklahoma and serves a population of 67,000. WCHD chose to address communication issues that prevented the department from being as effective as it would like. As a result of improvement efforts, WCHD discovered that information is not always shared with those who need it, and the department is taking steps to implement a communication enhancement project.

Deschutes County Health Services

Deschutes County Health Services (DCHS) is located in central Oregan and serves a primarily rural population along with three cities. DCHS was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. DCHS’s goal was to improve immunization data entry timeliness in clinics.

Malheur County Health Department

Funded to provide quality improvement (QI) training to staff; develop a quality improvement policy; and write a report on a completed quality improvement activity.

Multnomah County Health Department

Funded to develop plans and policies for a functioning performance/quality management system; finalize the quality improvement and communications plans; and provide staff and leadership training. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to smaller LHDs in their jurisdiction.

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center

The Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, a Tribal health department, was funded to complete a departmental strategic plan and integrate it into the tribal health improvement plan; evaluate public health laws and develop a guide to assist staff and providers in understanding their roles and responsibilities in enforcement; and ensure that staff workforce competencies meet the needs of the community.

Bethlehem Health Bureau

The Bethlehem Health Bureau (BHB) is located in Bethlehem, PA, and serves a population of approximately 73,000. BHB identified data collection, processing, and maintenance as areas for improvement. The bureau developed and piloted a quality improvement process, and, based on recommendations, implemented a modified process for data collection, processing, and maintenance throughout the bureau. As a result, BHB now has a consistent, accurate process to collect data.

Erie County Department of Health

The Erie County Department of Health was funded to create a workforce development plan, develop a performance management system, and implement at least one quality improvement process within the health department.

Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department

Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department (A/TCHHSD) is located in Austin, TX, and serves the urban, suburban, and rural populations in the district. A/TCHHSD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. A/TCHHSD’s goal was to strengthen internal departmental communications by developing and disseminating a departmental resource packet that provides information about internal and external services.

City of El Paso Department of Health

Funded to update its community health assessment and improvement plan; produce a written roadmap for addressing accreditation requirements; draft a workforce development plan; and complete manuals needed for documentation in Domains 2 and 3. The health department will also provide technical assistance on accreditation to a small LHD in their jurisdiction.

Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services

Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) is located in Houston, TX, and serves unincorporated areas of Harris County, as well as over 30 municipalities within the county. The total combined population for a majority of services is 1.75 million; however, the jurisdiction for some services includes all 3.89 million residents of the county. HCPHES identified community health assessments and community health data as an area for improvement and applied a quality improvement process to improve upon current approaches for gathering and reporting community health data.

Houston Department of Health and Human Services

The Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) serves an urban population of approximately 2.1 million. HDHHS initiated a quality improvement process in the area of staff education and training regarding evaluation by conducting various training sessions, developing a database of ongoing evaluation efforts, and creating a model evaluation program.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) is located in South Central Texas and serves a diverse metropolitan population of nearly 1.5 million residents. SAMHD developed its first departmental strategic plan and aligned it with the standards in the NACCHO Operational Definition of a Local Health Department—the same standards that are providing the framework for the standards in the voluntary national accreditation program.

Salt Lake County Health Department (UT)

Funded to complete the community health improvement plan; complete the agency strategic plan; and complete the application process to PHAB. The health department will apply for accreditation by July 1, 2013; this funding will support payment of the PHAB fee.

Tooele County Health Department (UT)

The Tooele County Health Department (TCHD) is located in adjacent to Salt Lake City in UT and serves a predominantly rural population. TCHD was a beta test site for the Public Health Accreditation Board’s (PHAB’s) voluntary national accreditation program in 2010. As part of the beta test process, sites completed a QI project to address an area identified through their self-assessment. TCHD’s goal was to review, update and train employees on departmental internal policies.

Public Health - Seattle & King County

Funded to support development of and implement a workforce training needs assessment instrument; document strategies for engaging staff in workforce surveys; produce draft workforce development and training evaluation plans; and develop a system for tracking staff professional development activities. The health department will also provide related technical assistance to smaller LHDs in their jurisdiction.

Institute for Wisconsin's Health

Funded to conduct an Accreditation Summit for 12-15 Wisconsin LHDs; and provide targeted technical assistance, via matched "mentor" agencies, to three LHDs that are preparing to submit applications to PHAB by May 2013.

Oneida County Health Department

The Oneida County Health Department was funded to support staff time needed to finalize PHAB documentation requirements and update policies and procedures, and pay part of the PHAB application fees. The health department appiled for PHAB accreditation in spring 2012.

Wauwatosa Health Department

The Wauwatosa Health Department (WHD) is located in Southeastern Wisconsin, and serves a population of about 46,000. WHD worked to develop a standardized data collection system to track health department activities and essential services as they relate to community health priorities.

West Allis Health Department

The West Allis Health Department (WAHD) is located in Southeastern Wisconsin and serves a population of 65,000. WAHD engaged in a comprehensive quality improvement process to create a new strategic plan, which has laid the foundation for quality improvement and accreditation preparation within the department. WAHD is working to be fully prepared for voluntary national accreditation by 2011.

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