As PHAB works on the various components of items under consideration for Version 2022, we will post that information on this section of the website. While we want to be transparent in sharing the information that we are considering, we want to also emphasize that nothing is final until the final documents are approved.

Version 2022 Work in Progress: Overview January 2021

In recognition of the changing nature of public health practice, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) has begun its preparation for refreshing the accreditation standards and measures. This next version will be called Version 2022 and will inform both initial accreditation and reaccreditation. The work related to revising the Standards and Measures was previously referred to as Version 2.0. Changes in the standards and measures will be informed by a number of inputs. The purpose of Version 2022 will be to:

• Advance the field of public health practice
• Address emerging issues (e.g., opioids)
• Reflect current evidence
• Improve measurements of health department performance
• Clarify requirements for accreditation

The work plan and approximate time frames are as follows:
2017 -2020: Compile and analyze data on health departments’ assessments on the standards and measures, evaluation and other feedback from the health departments and site visitors, and evidence from the public health field.
2018-2020: Commission papers and convene expert panels and Think Tanks
2020-Early 2021: Engage Accreditation Improvement Committee and develop drafts
Late 2021: Vet draft Standards and Measures, Version 2022

As PHAB works on the various components of items under consideration for Version 2022, we will post that information on this section of the website. This report provides a psychometric analysis of health departments performance across the Standards & Measures. Information about performance on thematic groups of measures is available below and on the PHAB Data Portal.

We will be transparent in sharing the information that we are considering, but we want to emphasize that nothing is final until the final documents are approved. PHAB will be sharing information and seeking feedback at upcoming national, state, and regional conferences as appropriate. PHAB expects the new standards and measures to go into effect in 2022, so health departments working on initial accreditation under Version 1.5 and the current reaccreditation requirements should continue with that version until the new version is released.

A. Evidence Related to Quality Improvement and Performance Management
B. What We’ve Learned From Accredited Health Departments About Quality Improvement and Performance Management
C. Quality Improvement/Performance Management Think Tank Summary

A. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Health Equity
B. Health Equity Think Tank Summary
C. Health Equity Commissioned Paper: Advancing Health Equity in Health Department’s Public Health Practice

A. Evidence Related to Behavioral Health
B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Behavioral Health
C. Behavioral Health Think Tank Summary
D. Opioid Prevention & Intervention Strategies Survey

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Laboratories
B. What We’ve Learned From Accredited Health Departments About Laboratory Capacity
C. Public Health Laboratory Accreditation Think Tank Report
D. Public Health Laboratories Expert Panel Summary

A. Evidence Related to Environmental Health 
B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Environmental Health
C. Environmental Public Health Think Tank Summary

A. Summary of Inclusive Health Expert Panel Recommendations

B. Results of 2018 APHA Survey of Local, State, and Territorial Health Departments 

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Law and Policy

B. Public Health Law and Policy: What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments

C. Summary of Public Health Law Expert Panel Recommendations

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Research
B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Public Health Research
C. Summary of Recommendations about Research Standards from the PHAB Research Advisory Council

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Data

B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Public Health Data

C. Data, Surveillance, Informatics Think Tank Summary

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Emergency Preparedness

B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Emergency Preparedness

C. Emergency Preparedness Expert Panel Summary

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Workforce Development

B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Public Health Workforce Development

C. Summary of Public Health Workforce Expert Panel Recommendations

A. Evidence Related to Chronic Disease

B. What We’ve Learned From Accredited Health Departments About Chronic Disease

C. Chronic Disease Think Tank Summary

Health Departments and Authentic Community Engagement: Commissioned Paper Authored by the Center for Public Health Practice & Research, Georgia Southern University

A. Evidence Related to Public Health Communication Science

B. What We’ve Learned from Accredited Health Departments About Communication Science 

C. Summary of Communication Science Expert Panel

A. Healthy Aging and PHAB Health Department Accreditation Tip Sheet

B. Healthy Aging Commissioned Paper and Think Tank Summary