Many public health departments in Oregon are actively preparing for national public health accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). The Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division (PHD) is proud to be one of these agencies.
The accreditation process allows us to measure our performance against a set of national standards, celebrate and share our successes, and identify opportunities for improvement. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that our population is served by an efficient and effective public health system.
On this page:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ten Essential Services and Core Competencies for Public Health
Resources
Training
Frequently Asked Questions
What is involved in becoming accredited?
To apply for accreditation, PHD must complete three prerequisites: a statewide community health assessment, a statewide health improvement plan, and an agency-level strategic plan. Additionally, PHD will need to provide documentation on how we meet the standards and measures listed in PHAB's 12 domains.
What is the statewide community health assessment (CHA)?
The State Health Profile and Public Health System Assessment, or CHA, helps us understand the health status of our population. By looking at the data, we can see where our state is doing well, and where we need to improve. Having consistent data allows us to effectively set health improvement priorities and identify communities, groups and resources that can help us move towards a healthier future.
What is the statewide health improvement plan (SHIP)?
Oregon’s Healthy Future: A Plan for Empowering Communities, or SHIP, used the data from the State Health Profile to build a set of priorities for improved health in our state. PHD will be one partner in a community effort to mobilize around five priorities: tobacco, obesity, oral health, substance abuse/behavioral health, and health equity. By working together, we believe we can make a difference for Oregon.
Wait, I thought we already did this. What’s the 2010 Oregon Health Improvement Plan?
In 2009, Oregon Health Authority was required by statue to develop a health improvement plan. The plan was developed by a 26-member committee appointed by the Oregon Health Policy Board, with input from hundreds of Oregonians. The 2010 Oregon Health Improvement Plan analyzed how chronic diseases affect Oregonians, and provided critical data, priorities, and strategies that were instrumental to informing the new SHIP Advisory Group’s recommendations for Oregon’s Healthy Future.
What is the agency strategic plan?
PHD’s strategic plan describes our priorities, for the next five years, in 11 key areas. The plan identifies the places in which our Division will come together to plan, resource and implement initiatives in addition to the great services our programs already provide to Oregonians. By pooling our talent in these key areas, we believe we will make a measurable impact in our vision of lifelong health for all people in Oregon.
Why does PHD want to be accredited?
Accreditation is a seal of approval by an objective, outside body. It is proof that an organization has adopted and consistently meets a set of stringent standards to show it is delivering the best-quality service possible. In the case of public health accreditation, it increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the public health system infrastructure, which is critical to ensuring the health and well-being of Oregonians. Quality improvement and performance management are principles and practices used to promote operational excellence and strengthen the public health system.
My county health department is going through accreditation. Is this is the same thing the state is doing?
Yes, it is the same process as outlined by the Public Health Accreditation Board. All 34 local health departments in Oregon are at some stage of the accreditation process, whether completing the initial Accreditation Readiness Checklist or submitting a completed accreditation application. Local health department pre-requisites for accreditation are accessible through the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) website. Oregon hopes to see its first accredited local health departments in 2013. The goal of accreditation is to improve and protect the health of every community by advancing the quality and performance of public health departments at the tribal, local and state level.
Ten Essential Services and Core Competencies for Public Health
Ten Essential Services - CDC
Ten Essential Services - The Community Toolbox
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals
Resources
National:
Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
ASTHO Accreditation and Performance Improvement Guide
National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Tribal Public Health Accreditation
CDC Site on Voluntary Accreditation
NACCHO Accreditation Preparation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Site on Accreditation
Oregon:
Public Health Accreditation handout 
Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) - Local Accreditation Page
Training