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The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency announced that the Public Health Branch has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the nonprofit organization that administers the national accreditation program that aims to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and transforming the quality and performance of government public health agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

“We are so pleased to be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," shared Tulare County Public Health Director, Karen Elliott. “We hope this announcement, coming as it does in the midst of our rapidly ongoing public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will reassure our community, our partners, our funders, and our elected officials that the services we provide are as effective as possible for the needs of our community. By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve.”

The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of services and performance. Tulare County joins the group of nineteen other health departments that have undergone the rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process in meeting the set of high quality standards and measures to achieve this noteworthy accreditation.

"The value of becoming nationally accredited through PHAB extends far beyond the interior walls of the health department," said PHAB President and CEO Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN. "People living and working in communities served by these health departments can be assured that their health department is strong and has the capacity to protect and promote their health. Just going through the accreditation process itself helps health departments pinpoint the areas that are critical to improving the work they do for their communities."

Often called the “backbone” of the public health system, local public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. Across the nation, health departments provide services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; ensuring access to safe food, water, clean air, and life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. Tulare County Public Health meets these needs through more than 50 outreach programs carried out by over 300 dedicated employees. Programs and services from Public Health Nursing to Environmental Health address current and emerging needs, keeping our community safe and healthy.

“We congratulate Tulare County Public Health for working to serve its community in the best possible way,” said Joe Finkbonner, RPh, MHA, chair of PHAB’s Board of Directors. “The accreditation process requires a commitment to quality and performance improvement. By achieving accreditation through PHAB, people living and working in Tulare County can rest assured that the Tulare County Public Health Branch is strong, has been rigorously examined, and has the capacity to protect and promote the health of everyone in the community.”

To learn more about PHAB and the accreditation standards achieved in Tulare County, visit www.phaboard.org.