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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Project Public Health Ready Recognition
June 14, 2016
June 14, 2016
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN
WALTON COUNTY RECOGNIZED BY
‘PROJECT PUBLIC HEALTH READY’
Contact:
Crystal Steele
Crystal.Steele@flhealth.gov
850-892-8021 Ext. 1139
Defuniak Springs, Fla.– The Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) protects
residents from emergencies and disasters through the “Public Health Ready” recognition
program, and 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.
“We are proud to have been recognized by the ‘Public Health Ready’ program for our high level
of preparedness,” said DOH-Walton Administrator Holly Holt. “We will continue to improve our
ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in Walton County.”
DOH-Walton demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness
benchmarks required by “Project Public Health Ready,” a unique partnership between NACCHO
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DOH-Walton joins a cohort of nearly 450
local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in
preparedness through this program, either individually or as part of a region.
This recognition confirms that the Florida Department of Health in Walton County 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 the “Project Public Health Ready” program 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.
This 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.
“When disaster strikes, it affects local communities, and local health departments are a critical
part of any first response to disease outbreaks, emergencies, and acts of terrorism,” said Dr.
LaMar Hasbrouck, NACCHO Executive Director. “NACCHO commends the Department of
Health in Walton County for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
NACCHO, the voice of the 2,800 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 Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools,
and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR .
About the Florida Department of Health
The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida
through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida
Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN
WALTON COUNTY RECOGNIZED BY
‘PROJECT PUBLIC HEALTH READY’
Contact:
Crystal Steele
Crystal.Steele@flhealth.gov
850-892-8021 Ext. 1139
Defuniak Springs, Fla.– The Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) protects
residents from emergencies and disasters through the “Public Health Ready” recognition
program, and 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.
“We are proud to have been recognized by the ‘Public Health Ready’ program for our high level
of preparedness,” said DOH-Walton Administrator Holly Holt. “We will continue to improve our
ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in Walton County.”
DOH-Walton demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness
benchmarks required by “Project Public Health Ready,” a unique partnership between NACCHO
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DOH-Walton joins a cohort of nearly 450
local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in
preparedness through this program, either individually or as part of a region.
This recognition confirms that the Florida Department of Health in Walton County 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 the “Project Public Health Ready” program 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.
This 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.
“When disaster strikes, it affects local communities, and local health departments are a critical
part of any first response to disease outbreaks, emergencies, and acts of terrorism,” said Dr.
LaMar Hasbrouck, NACCHO Executive Director. “NACCHO commends the Department of
Health in Walton County for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
NACCHO, the voice of the 2,800 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 Project Public Health Ready, including recognized sites, project tools,
and resources, visit http://www.naccho.org/PPHR .
About the Florida Department of Health
The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida
through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida
Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov
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