July 3, 2024
Media Contact: Caitlin Hodge, Caitlin.Hodge@vdh.virginia.gov
Chickahominy Health District Receives National “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition
HANOVER, Va. – The Chickahominy Health District (CHD), which serves the counties of Charles City, Goochland, Hanover, and New Kent, has been recognized by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. CHD demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR.
“We are honored to have received this recognition and I am extremely proud of my team at Chickahominy Health District,” said Dr. Tom Franck, Chickahominy Health District director. “This award is a testament to the tremendous effort and focused commitment on the part of our team and, in particular, Zach Revene, our local health emergency Coordinator. Whether we are facing a pandemic, a severe weather emergency, or any other public health crisis, it is critical that we always remain prepared and ready to respond and protect the health of our community.”
PPHR recognition confirms that CHD has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices. PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions.
“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters.” said Lori T. Freeman, NACCHO’s Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends Chickahominy Health District for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
For more information about the Chickahominy Health District, please visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/chickahominy/. For more information on Project Public Health Ready, please visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR.
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