Accredited health departments demonstrate a commitment to accountability, transparency, and performance improvement.

March 9, 2023 – Alexandria, VA – The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) today announced the names of six public health departments that have achieved accreditation or reaccreditation status, after completion of a systematic review process against national standards. These health departments demonstrated their commitment to accountability, transparency, and performance improvement.

Health departments are the backbone of the public health system and positively impact the health of the communities they serve, through essential services such as vaccination, food inspections, health education, and vital records. Accreditation supports health departments in their delivery of these programs and services to drive performance improvement, build strong infrastructure and promote transformation.

“PHAB upholds the highest standards of ensuring the nation’s public health systems provide the best services possible to the communities we all serve,” said Dr. Gregory Branch, Baltimore County Health Officer and Director for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Through accreditation, the residents of Baltimore County can trust that we are providing quality public health services. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the HHS staff for their hard work and dedication in achieving accreditation and helping HHS receive this distinction of excellence.”

PHAB administers the national accrediting program and works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and transforming the quality and performance of governmental public health departments in the United States and abroad.

“Public health departments are essential to the health, safety, and wellbeing of their communities, and are relied upon daily to provide critical public health services,” said PHAB President and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. “It is important, now more than ever, to continue to advance public health practice by building trust with our communities and demonstrating sound public health practice through accreditation.”

National initial accreditation was awarded February 24, 2023 to:

1. Baltimore County Department of Health, MD
2. Fort Wainwright Department of Public Health, AK
3. Madera County Department of Public Health, CA
4. Solano County Division of Public Health, CA
5. Van Wert County General Health District, OH

National reaccreditation was awarded February 24, 2023 to:

1. Christian County Health Department, KY

For more information, contact Janalle Goosby at [email protected]. Learn more about PHAB and accreditation at http://www.phaboard.org. Be in the know: subscribe to PHAB’s e-newsletter.