Public health departments play an important role in protecting and promoting the health and well-being of communities. Achieving accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is a significant milestone in the journey and demonstrates that a health department is committed to continuously improving to meet the needs of their communities. However, deciding where and how to get started can be challenging.

Accreditation is not just a badge of honor; it shows a commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and transparency in public health and to community. Accredited departments are better equipped to respond to emergencies, protect their communities, and enhance the quality of public health services you provide. A few reasons your health department should pursue accreditation include:

• Enhanced Quality: Accreditation promotes a culture of continuous quality improvement, ensuring that public health services and programs meet evidence-based standards.
• Trust: Accreditation demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability, building trust with the community and stakeholders.
• Preparedness: Accredited departments are better prepared to respond to public health emergencies.
• Workforce: The accreditation process promotes workforce development and boosts staff engagement and connectivity.

Many departments ask how they can be better prepared to start their journey with PHAB. These are some actions your department can take as you get ready for the Preparation step:

• Review the Standards and Measures for Initial Accreditation and the Standards and Measures for Pathways Recognition.

• Evaluate existing plans. Using the Standards and Measures, examine your Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, Public Health Emergency Operations Plan, Workforce Development Plan, and others to ensure they address requirements.

• Understand the Foundational Capabilities. Familiarize yourself with the Foundational Capabilities, the baseline capabilities necessary to support your community. The Pathways Recognition program is based on the Foundational Capability measures for Initial Accreditation. Understanding what you have in place and identifying areas for additional work will help develop a timeline.

• Explore PHAB Tools for Transformation and how these tools can be used to assist your department in the accreditation process. Seek support from learning communities and related groups – many states and national organizations have groups related to accreditation.
• Set realistic expectations. Acknowledge that the accreditation process is a marathon, not a sprint. Engage leadership in the process and communicate the tie commitment and timeline.

Starting the accreditation journey is a major undertaking that shows your department’s commitment to excellence, community well-being, and continuous improvement. While the process may seem intimidating, these steps will lay the groundwork for the official first step: Readiness and Training. For any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to PHAB at [email protected] or explore our website for more information and resources.