ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - The Florida Department of Health (DOH) in St. Johns County has again 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. DOH-St. Johns County demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DOH-St. Johns County joins a cohort of nearly 450 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.

“We are proud to once again be recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness,” said Dawn C. Allicock, M.D., M.P.H., C.P.H., Health Officer for St. Johns County and Director of the Department of Health in St. Johns County. “This honor reflects tremendous effort, dedication, and cooperation on the part of our entire team and our incredible community partners.”

PPHR recognition confirms that Florida Department of Health in St. Johns 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 PPHR 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 national best practices.

PPHR recognition requires local health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the residents and visitors in their communities. Department of Health in St. Johns County collaborates with St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, St. Johns County Emergency Management, St. Johns County Fire Rescue, Flagler Hospital, and many other public and private entities.

“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 Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”

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.

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