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Schenectady County Public Health Services Achieves National Accreditation

Schenectady County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich Presents a Proclamation to Public Health Director Keith Brown

One of Only 16 Counties in New York State

The Schenectady County Legislature announced that Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Public health accreditation through PHAB is the measurement of health department performance against a set of nationally recognized, practice-focused and evidence-based standards.

SCPHS voluntarily undertook the accreditation process as a demonstration of their commitment to accountability and credibility for the benefit of residents, community leaders, and partner organizations. This proactive step not only signifies their dedication to evidence-based practices but also underscores their ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of service provided to the community and dedication to continuous improvement in delivering vital public health services. At the time of their accreditation, SCPHS was one of only 16 accredited counties in New York State.

“We applaud our public health team for achieving national accreditation, a milestone in their ongoing mission to support, protect, and improve the health of our community,” said Schenectady County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich, Chair of the Health, Housing & Human Services Committee. “Their commitment to the health and welfare of our community is truly commendable, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations for this well-deserved recognition.”

Public Health Accreditation Board and Accreditation Program

Established in 2007, PHAB is the non-profit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.

The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, sets standards against which the nation’s governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. Standards emphasize Foundational Capabilities and are aligned with the 10 Essential Public Health Services.