Reno County, Kansas – March 5, 2021 – The Reno County Health Department was recently awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Established in 2007, PHAB is the nonprofit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.
“We are so pleased to be recognized by PHAB," said Karla Nichols, Reno County Health Director. “The accreditation process has taken over four years, but to be awarded this honor during the current health environment really shows the commitment of our staff and the strength of our programs.”
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 their services and performance. The accreditation lasts for 5 years, upon which time the Health Department must apply for reaccreditation.
"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."
Public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. The Reno County Health Department provides 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. For more information on the Reno County Health Department’s services, visit www.renogov.org/239/Health-Department