Health Department Accreditation

Health department accreditation improves the quality of service delivery and the health status of populations served.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) encourages local health departments (LHD) to pursue national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). LHD not pursuing accreditation are encouraged to adopt PHAB standards and measures as public health best practices or pursue the Pathways Recognition Program.

Three Kentucky LHD were among the first 11 accredited health departments in the U.S. Many more since have applied or plan to apply for accreditation. The KDPH was conferred accreditation in March 2022. Health departments that have achieved accreditation can be found here.

For more information about accreditation, performance management or quality improvement contact the state Accreditation Coordinator.

State Resources

​To view current KDPH plans, visit the Reference Materials section on the KDPH home webpage.

The ​Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)​ provides tools and technical support to its members pursuing accreditation.




LHD Resources

Subscribe to the PHAB Newsletter​ for the latest news and events straight to your inbox.

National Association of City and County Health Officials provides tools and resources for county health departments interested in accreditation preparation and performance improvement.

NACCHO Toolbox (Accreditation and Quality Improvement tools)

National Public Health Performance Standards Program, organized around the 10 Essential Public Health Services, helps state and local health departments identify activities to recognize strengths and opportunities for improvement which will be valuable in preparing for accreditation.

Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) - Activities completed through the MAPP process for community-driven strategic planning help demonstrate health departments meet Operational Definition of a Functional Local Health Department​ standards. Accreditation standards and measures for local health departments are based, in part, on this operational definition.

The Kentucky Public Health Improvement Network (KPHIN) is a group of state and local public health practitioners passionate about accreditation and performance improvement. KPHIN meets virtually the second Monday of each month at 3:00 pm EST, with longer sessions quarterly in-person.

​Have a question or need help getting started?  E-mail us. 

Contact Information