Mississippi County Health Dept. Receives Accreditation

The Mississippi County Health Department has been awarded accreditation by the Missouri Institute for Community Health (MICH) for its exemplary service in public health.
This award acknowledges that the Mississippi County Health Dept. meets or exceeds the standards set by the Missouri Voluntary Accreditation Program for Local Public Health Agencies. Missouri is the first in the nation to implement such a program measuring a local health department's capacity and readiness to provide essential public health services to communities.
To reach accredited status, the Mississippi County Health Dept. completed a rigorous self assessment and demonstrated to reviewers that the county is protected by a public health system able to provide quality service.
Reviewers noted particular strengths of the Mississippi County Health Dept. including: an exceptional level of organization; the use of community assessment and the development of a report card as central to determining the leading health problems for the area; thorough analysis of the department's public policies; an exemplary continuous quality improvement plan; a well established and user-friendly website; and successful grant funding for health programs.
The Mississippi County Health Dept. is the fifth local health department in the state to reach accreditation status. Accreditation by the Missouri Institute for Community Health is a seal of approval given for the agency's delivery of public health services. 
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services partnered with the Institute, which includes representatives from academic institutions, community groups, and professional associations to make the Voluntary Accreditation Program for Local Public Health Agencies a reality.
The Missouri Institute for Community Health was established as a nonprofit organization in 2003, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson/Turning Point Initiative and the Heartland Center for Public Health Capacity Development. It facilitates and promotes excellence in community systems for health and quality of life and chose as its first initiative the Voluntary Accreditation Program.