News & Information

OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Sussex County Administrative Center
One Spring Street
Newton, New Jersey 07860
(973) 579-0250
FAX (973) 579-0259
E-mail: jeskilson@sussex.nj.us
John H. Eskilson
County Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2014

Sussex County to Receive Funding for Department of Environmental and Public Health Services to Prepare for National Accreditation

The County of Sussex has been awarded a grant in the amount of $18,500 to support meeting the requirements of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), the first and only voluntary national accreditation program for public health departments. Sussex County is one of 29 local health departments from 19 states to receive this funding through the Accreditation Support Initiative (ASI). A total of 147 local health departments of all sizes and types, ranging from rural to urban applied for funding.

The ASI was created in 2011 to promote national accreditation readiness among a greater number of local health departments and support their varying needs to reach accreditation. Funding for the ASI is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (CDC) and administered by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).

"Quality improvement is one of the most important investments a local health department can make - always seeking ways to do things better, more efficiently, with just the right amount of resources, and with a greater impact," said NACCHO Executive Director Robert M. Pestronk. "As a participant in this initiative, Department of Environmental and Public Health Services is taking a big step to ensure better health for the people of Sussex County.

The grant funding will be utilized by the Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services to conduct a self-study of existing programs to determine strengths, opportunities for improvement, and to establish plans for addressing gaps in services in order to ensure the quality of County health programs and to make improvements where necessary. Additionally the accreditation process will assist the County in allocating scarce resources to the areas of greatest need.

About Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services
The Department of Environmental and Public Health Services serves as the county health department, providing public health services to all twenty-four municipalities. Its mission is to protect, promote, maintain and improve the health and quality of life for Sussex County citizens and visitors through a responsive, well managed, organized community effort.

About the National Association of County and City Health Officials
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation's 2,800 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Herbert J. Yardley, Administrator
Sussex County Department of Environmental and Public Health Services
973-579-0370, Ext. 1245