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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