Contact: Mahlori Isaacs, (202) 329-9286

(Washington, DC)  Today, the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) announces it has been recognized as an official accredited public health department by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The goal of the voluntary national accreditation program is to improve and protect public health, by advancing the quality and performance of the nation’s tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments.

“We are excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said DOH Director, Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt. “The accreditation process helps ensure our programs and services are responsive to the needs of the community. With accreditation, DOH is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to residents, surrounding jurisdictions, stakeholders and other constituents. This recent accomplishment means a lot to us and reinforces the Bowser Administration’s commitment to delivering a fresh start by helping to improve the quality of life for District residents.”

The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards by which the nation’s more than 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a rigorous, multi-faceted, peer reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.

“The District of Columbia Department of Health joins the growing ranks of accredited health departments in a strong commitment to their public health mission,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The peer review process provides valuable feedback to inform health departments of their strengths and areas for improvement, so that they can better protect and promote the health of the people they serve.”

Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. In cities, towns and states across the nation, health departments provide a range of 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.

The national accreditation program was created collaboratively over a 10-year period by hundreds of public health practitioners working at the national, tribal, state and local levels. Since the program’s launch in September 2011, over 100 public health departments have applied for accreditation. Additionally, over 100 public health practitioners from across the nation have also been trained to serve as volunteer peer site visitors for the program.

For more information on public health accreditation, visit phaboard.org.