The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) announced today that it 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 the quality and performance of the nation’s Tribal, state, local, and territorial public health departments.  Lake County is the 10th of 97 certified local health departments in Illinois and among the first 117 of more than 3,000 health departments nationwide to receive accreditation through PHAB, the independent organization that administers the national public health accreditation program.

“We are pleased and excited to achieve national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement,” said Tony Beltran, the Executive Director of LCHD/CHC. “The accreditation process helps to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community. Thank you to our staff, our Board of Health, our County Board, and our community partners for making this happen.”

With accreditation, LCHD/CHC is demonstrating increased accountability and credibility to the public, funders, elected officials and partner organizations with which they work. 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 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.

”Whenever you see our seal of accreditation, you will know that LCHD/CHC has been rigorously examined and meets or exceeds national standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health,” Beltran said. “By continuing to improve our services and performance, we can be sure we are meeting the public health needs of those we serve as effectively as possible.”

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.

Established in 1956, the Lake County Health Department is a state-certified public health department responsible for the prevention of disease and disability, the promotion of health and assuring a healthful environment.  Headquartered at 3010 Grand Avenue in Waukegan, Illinois, the Department and its Community Health Center provide a wide variety of services at sites throughout the county.  For more information on PHAB, contact: skidder@lakecountyil.gov. 

About the Public Health Accreditation Board

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), established in 2007, was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body, and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  The development of national public health accreditation has involved, and is supported by, public health leaders and practitioners from the national, Tribal, state and local levels.

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