Through a seven-step process, PHAB’s initial accreditation assesses a health department’s capacity to carry out the ten Essential Public Health Services; manage an effective health department; and maintain strong and effective communications with the governing entity. The seventh step is Reaccreditation and is necessary for a health department to continue to be designated as accredited. Reaccreditation focuses on assessment of an accredited health department’s continued improvement and advancement, thereby becoming increasingly effective at improving the health of the population it serves.

PHAB provides accreditation services to state, Tribal, local, and territorial public health departments as well as state/territorial Vital Records/Health Statistics units and the US Army Installation Departments of Public Health.

Why Get Accredited?

Tangible benefits of accreditation have been documented in the national evaluation of accreditation and in stories from accredited health departments. Since accreditation is about performance and quality improvement, the actual benefits to a health department will depend on its identified needs. Accreditation provides a framework for a health department to identify performance improvement opportunities, to improve management, develop leadership, and improve relationships with the community. The process is one that will challenge the health department to think about what business it does and how it does that business.