Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about PHAB and the Exploring Accreditation project are provided below.
1. Who will administer the new voluntary accreditation program?
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is being established as a nonprofit organization to administer the voluntary, national accreditation program for state and local public health departments. This program is based on the recommendations of the steering committee of the Exploring Accreditation project.
2. When will the accreditation board be founded?
PHAB was incorporated in May 2007, and is in the process of submitting an application for 501(c)(3) status to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The accreditation board is expected to be located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
3. How will the accreditation board be established?
A board of directors will oversee the initial establishment of PHAB. The board comprises the executive directors of the American Public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the National Association of Local Boards of Health, all of whom were members of the Exploring Accreditation planning committee. The board plans to add three additional members; one with expertise in standardization, one with financial administration experience, and a third serving as a public representative. Per the final recommendations of the Exploring Accreditation steering committee, the board will appoint an entirely new set of governing directors in May 2008.
4. Who will comprise the Board of Directors?
According to the recommendations of the Exploring Accreditation steering committee, members of the board of directors should include both organizational representatives and individuals with relevant experience and expertise. The following principles will be applied in determining the composition:
- A majority of members will have recent experience in state or local public health.
- Members should have recent experience on public health governing boards.
- Diversity of experience, geographic location, and personal background is important.
- Terms and term limits should be specified.
- Members should include academics, state and local elected officials, health care providers, representatives from federal agencies, and others with a public health background.
- One or more public members should be appointed.
- Members should include representatives of the founding organizations and other key public health organizations.
5. Who will lead The Public Health Accreditation Board?
Dr. Albert Gray started as executive director of PHAB in June 2007.
6. When can my health department apply for accreditation?
Development of the program’s components will begin in June 2007. The development process will allow sufficient time for the creation of a successful program, while allowing potential applicants and other stakeholders to inform the process. The development process will include:
- Development of standards and metrics for state and local health departments
- Creation of an assessment process for individual applicants
- Establishment of a process to determine recognition/approval of existing state-based accreditation programs
- Implementation of a beta testing phase for state and local public health departments.
It is anticipated that the first applications for accreditation will be accepted no later than winter 2011.
7. How will accreditation standards be created?
Standards and metrics will take into account existing work--such as NACCHO’s Operational Definition, ASTHO’s Understanding State Public Health project, and the National Public Health Performance Standards Program--and will be drafted by a workgroup and vetted through potential applicants and other stakeholders. All relevant activities will be overseen by committees and workgroups comprised primarily of government public health professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Exploring Accreditation project (PDF Download)
