Pillars of Governmental Environmental Public Health | A Guide to Scalable Environmental Public Health Programs
Appendix B Public Health Accreditation and Environmental Public Health
Public health accreditation is a voluntary process that health departments can undertake to demonstrate their capacity to deliver essential public health services effec- tively and efficiently. The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB, 2013) is the national accrediting body for public health departments, and it has established a set of standards and measures that health departments must meet to achieve accreditation status. The accreditation process is important for EPH depart- ments within health departments because it provides a framework for continuous quality improvement and ensures that EPH programs meet national standards for performance and effectiveness. By contributing to their health department’s accreditation, EPH departments can demonstrate their commitment to protecting and promot- ing the health of their communities and can gain recogni- tion for their efforts. To be eligible for accreditation, health departments must demonstrate that their EPH programs are meeting the PHAB standards and measures, which are closely aligned with the 10 Essential Environmental Public Health Services described previously. These measures include having a strong infrastructure for assessment, investigation, and enforcement; effective communication and community engagement strategies; and a competent and diverse workforce.
Health departments must also demonstrate that their EPH programs are providing the core programs and services that are essential for protecting public health, such as food safety, water quality, and vector control. These core pro- grams should be based on the unique needs and priori- ties of the community served by the health department, as identified through community health assessments and other data-driven processes. In addition to meeting the PHAB standards and measures, health departments with EPH programs seeking accred- itation must also demonstrate that they have a culture of quality improvement and performance management. These measures include having systems in place for mon- itoring and evaluating the effectiveness of EPH programs and services and using data to drive decision-making and resource allocation. By participating in their health department’s accreditation process, EPH departments can strengthen their capacity to provide high-quality, evidence-based services that are responsive to the needs of their communities. Accredi- tation can also help health departments and their EPH departments to build partnerships and collaborations with other agencies and organizations, and to secure funding and resources to support their programs and services.
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