Salt Lake City, Utah – The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has achieved reaccreditation for the next five years through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), the sole national accrediting body for public health in the United States. The former Utah Department of Health first received accreditation in 2017.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate that we continually achieve the highest national standards for public health practice,” said Tracy Gruber, executive director of DHHS. “This accreditation is a testament to our public health staff who have demonstrated, once again, that we are a team dedicated to ensuring all Utahns have fair and equitable opportunities to live healthy and safe lives.”
PHAB accreditation is a voluntary process that evaluates a health department’s capacity to deliver the core public health services needed to protect and improve the health of the community. The accreditation process includes a rigorous self-assessment, a comprehensive review of policies and procedures, and a site visit by a team of trained peer reviewers.
Achieving PHAB accreditation is a significant accomplishment. It demonstrates that Utahns have a Department of Health and Human Services that is committed to providing high-quality public health services and is dedicated to continuous improvement. And it shows DHHS maintained high standards while experiencing a pandemic and merger. We are proud to have our work and programs nationally recognized once again and remain committed to the health and wellbeing of our community.
The accreditation is valid for five years and requires ongoing monitoring and reporting to PHAB.
“This reaccreditation is particularly significant given the critical importance of public health departments,” said Gruber. “As part of the public health system, we provide essential services, like disease prevention, emergency response, and disease monitoring, that directly impact the well-being of our communities. PHAB accreditation validates our efforts and contributes to the advancement of public health practice, ultimately supporting people living their healthiest lives.”
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