The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), a nationally recognized non-profit public health department accreditation organization founded in 2007, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), grants Accreditation status to state, local, tribal, or territorial public health departments provided the organization meets specific standards.

The criteria for Accreditation consists of a set of nationally recognized, practice-focused and evidence-based standards and measures. When the department or agency demonstrates they are applying these standards and measures, PHAB issues a recognition of achievement, and awards  Accreditation status. The goal of Accreditation is to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing the continuous quality and performance improvement of state, local, tribal and territorial public health departments/agencies.

The process consists of seven steps, from the application for Accredited status, submission of documents indicating the agency is following the accepted procedures, a site visit by PHAB staff, and then annual reports showing the public health agency continues to be in compliance with all the standards and measures.

As a part of the Accreditation process a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is done to measure the overall health of the community and identify areas that need improvement.  Mendocino County, in conjunction with local hospitals, clinics, tribes and other community partners, completed its CHNA in 2016. A copy of the assessment can be read here: Community Health Needs Assessment (2016).  The CHNA identified 5 areas where the data showed variations between state and national rates. The five areas of needed improvement in Mendocino County were:

• Mental Health
• Childhood Obesity and Family Wellness
• Poverty
• Lack of Housing
• Child Abuse/Neglect

The community organized Action Teams to work on improving these five areas, and a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) was created. The work is on-going, and interested members of the community are welcome to become partners.  You can learn more about the CHIP groups, or volunteer to be a part of a group on the CHIP website.

 Community Health Improvement Plan meeting, June 8, 2016 in Ukiah.