To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Letter of Support for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Public Health Reaccreditation
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the letter of support to the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB); and
2. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the signed letter to Public Health for submission to PHAB.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Fund (1175)
DISCUSSION:
On May 13, 2014, this Board signed a letter of support for Public Health’s initial Public Health accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). In 2016, Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Public Health was among the first of the rural public health departments in California to become nationally accredited. Over the past six years, the public health accreditation process has supported DHHS - Public Health in the delivery of programs and services by driving performance improvement to better serve Humboldt residents. Public health accreditation measures DHHS - Public Health against a set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standards and benefits our organization and community. Now, DHHS - Public Health seeks to maintain its status as an accredited public health organization to support its continued growth.
Public health organizations that sustain reaccreditation over time report a wide range of benefits from accreditation. Ninety-five percent of accredited public health agencies report that accreditation stimulated quality improvement and performance management within their organizations, and 90 percent reported that it improved their ability to identify and address gaps in employee training and workforce development. In the community, public health accreditation strengthens relationships with key partners, supports and operationalizes health equity and increases accountability and transparency.
The health system is essential for ensuring healthy, safe, and equitable communities. Public Health is a vital part of this system, and positively impacts the health of the Humboldt County residents, through essential services such as vaccination, food inspections and health education. Public health accreditation contributes to the advancement of public health practice and system improvement to support all people in living their healthiest lives.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
A total of $8,400.00 of Annual Reaccreditation Fees will be paid to the Public Health Accreditation Board. This expenditure was anticipated in Fiscal Year 2022-23 and was budgeted in fund 1175, budget unit 400003, Office of Performance Improvement and Accreditation. There is no direct impact to the County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by creating opportunities for improved safety and health, protecting vulnerable populations, providing appropriate levels of service, building interjurisdictional and regional cooperation, facilitating public/private partnerships to solve problems, engaging new partners and investing in county employees.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
n/a
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to sign the letter, resulting in DHHS - Public Health losing their status as a nationally accredited public health organization.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of Support for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Public Health Reaccreditation
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-8
Meeting of: May 13, 2014
File No.: 14-0215