COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
The national accreditation program works to improve and protect the health of the public by advancing and ultimately transforming the quality and performance of the nation’s state, local, tribal and territorial public health departments.
“We are pleased and excited to be recognized for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said CCHHS Director Thomas Pristow. “The accreditation process ensures that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. With accreditation, Health and Human Services is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and our partner organizations.”
The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation’s nearly 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of its services and performance. To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a multi-faceted, peer- reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.
CCHHS is one of fewer than 300 health departments that have achieved accreditation through PHAB since the organization launched in 2011. The department joins five other nationally accredited health departments in Arizona:
• Arizona Department of Health Services (Phoenix)
• Maricopa County Department of Public Health (Phoenix)Mohave County Department of Public Health (Kingman)
• Pima County Health Department (Tucson)
• Yavapai County Community Health Services (Prescott)
Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. In cities, towns, tribes and sovereign nations 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.
Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) strives to strengthen the health, safety and well-being of the community by providing comprehensive health and human services that enhance the ability of individuals, families and communities to thrive.