Introduction
The American Public Health Association (APHA) has been advancing quality improvement in both health care delivery and public health and has been on the forefront of ensuring quality in public health systems through its standards setting texts, education programs, and policies that promote quality improvement in a range of public health systems. Most recently, APHA has participated with its key partners to promote the National Public Health Performance Standards Program(NPHPSP), the accreditation of public health agencies, and the certification of graduate trained public health workers.
APHA is committed to promoting quality improvements in public health systems in a comprehensive way across the nation. This effort is in keeping with the recent consensus statement developed by the Public Health Quality Forum (PHQF) under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS). View the Statement on Quality in the Public Health System.
- The Public Health Quality Forum (PHQF) defines quality as follows:
Quality in public health is the degree to which policies, programs, services and research for the population increase desired health outcomes and conditions in which the population can be healthy.
More recently, the Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, in support of these efforts remarked that: "A fundamental function of the public health system is to safeguard and improve the quality of health in America." Dr Koh released a statement on September 21, 2009 entitled "Quality in the Public Health System". Dr. Koh announced that a strategic partnership has been established with APHA to ensure that the public health leadership is actively engaged in quality improvement. Dr. Koh's complete statement can be viewed on www.hhs.gov/ophs/
Expanding on Dr. Koh's "Vision for Public Health Quality", "Priority Areas for Improvement of Quality in Public Health" was published by P. A. Honore and Wakina Scott, U.S. Department of Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health November 2010. View the complete publication (PDF)
A Certificate program in QI available for interested parties. Learn about the fundamentals of QI.
Quality Improvement (QI) Certificate in public health is being offered by the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. This is a distance learning certificate offered via the internet. For more information view this PDF
QI Brochures:-
APHA’s quality initiatives will include but are not limited to:
2012 National Public Health Leadership Network (NLN)Meeting
The 2012 NLN meeting was held in St Louis, Missouri in April.
CONGRATULATIONS to the following persons:
The recipient of The 2012 Balderson Award for Support of Public Health Leadership Development was: Karlene Baddy, Director of Public Health Systems and Partnerships of The American Public Health Association (APHA).
The recipient of The 2012 Balderson Lifetime Public Health Leadership Award was: Joyce Gaufin, Executive Director of the Great Basin Public Health Leardership Institute.
The NLN is a consortium of organizations and individuals from academic institutions, national and international organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies dedicated to advancing the practice of public health leadership.
Accreditation
Accreditation of public health agencies emphasizes quality improvement in public health practice.
APHA Partners with Local Affiliates to Advance Accreditation
APHA recognizes the importance of public health quality, and the achievement of standards for health departments that ultimately improve leadership and enhance the public’s health. APHA has been at the forefront of public health quality and recognizes the unique and critical role that Affiliates have in informing the accreditation process in state, local and tribal communities.
In 2011, APHA awarded funding, via request for proposal, to eight Affiliates to enhance the quality of public health in local communities through a collaborative initiative between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and APHA’s Center for Professional Development, Public Health Systems and Partnership; and Affiliate Affairs. Affiliates awarded funding disseminated resources developed and lessons learned via APHA’s online community and CDC’s partnership network. Additional information on the specific sites and achievements will be posted at the beginning of the year.
For more information regarding the Affiliate Affairs Mini-Grants please click on the following link: FinalReportAccreditationMiniGrantsSummary.pdf
The Public Health Accreditation Board was established in 2006 and incorporated in May of 2007 as a non-profit organization to promote and manage the national accreditation program for public health agencies.
- The Accreditation Coalition was created:
- to help ensure the success of the accreditation effort and to provide continuity and ongoing guidance;
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to promote national accreditation efforts of public health agencies; and
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to advance a national public health agency accreditation program that will strengthen and improve the quality and performance of state, local, territorial, and tribal public health departments by providing a forum for public health stakeholder organizations to address and coordinate activities.
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Dr. Kaye Bender is the current President and CEO of PHAB.
READ THE LATEST INFORMATION ON PHAB ACTIVITIES
For additional information visit the PHAB website. Certification of graduate trained public health practioners by the Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
- Certification of schools and programs that educate public health students through the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH)
- Several specific evaluative programs such as Project Public Health Ready. For more information about these initiatives, contact:
Karlene Baddy, MEd.
Director, Public Health Systems and Partnerships
Center for Professional Development Public Health Systems and Partnerships
202-777-2494
202-777-2530
Email: karlene.baddy@apha.org
Last updated: August 28, 2012