The Norfolk Department of Public Health (NDPH) 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. NDPH 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. NDPH joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.
“I believe that this honor is well-deserved because it reflects tremendous effort, dedication, creativity, and cooperation on the part of our entire team of experts,” said Susan Girois, Director of the Norfolk Department of Public Health. “We will continue to improve our ability, with partners, to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in Norfolk.”
PPHR recognition confirms that NDPH 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. NDPH works closely with community partners such as Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition, Norfolk’s Trusted Partners group, and Norfolk Emergency Management’s Local Emergency Planning Committee.
“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, Chief Executive Officer. “NACCHO commends Norfolk Department of Public Health for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.
For more information on Emergency Preparedness, visit NorfolkPublicHealth.com
For more information on Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR.