KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - As local public health agencies around the country advance their preparedness to respond to bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health threats, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has recognized Public Health – Seattle & King County for its ability to respond to public health emergencies. Public Health is one of 14 local public health agencies nationwide receiving recognition today.

“NACCHO commends Public Health – Seattle & King County for being a model of public health emergency preparedness,” said Patrick Libbey, executive director of NACCHO. “The public health system still has work to do when it comes to preparedness, but we are making great strides thanks to the good work of our local partners in King County.”

“We are thrilled to be recognized for our hard work to protect the health and lives of King County residents,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Every day, we build on this strong foundation and enhance our ability to respond to any public health crisis.”

The Public Health Ready designation is the result of extensive external reviews conducted by Project Public Health Ready, an innovative partnership program between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Public Health achieved goals in three key areas to meet the readiness standard: preparedness planning, individual worker competence, and demonstration of readiness through drills and exercises.

Specifically, Public Health Ready designation confirms that an emergency response plan is in place, the plan is appropriately connected to other emergency response plans and partner agencies, agency staff members are trained, and the plan is exercised and used during public health and other community emergencies. Additionally, being Public Health Ready indicates employment of an all-hazards preparedness approach that provides the best readiness for any type of public health emergency.

Other agencies recognized this year are:

Local public health agencies recognized underwent an evaluation process that included reviews by three members of the Project Public Health Ready Review Council. The Council consists of local health officials and organizational liaisons from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Association of Schools of Public Health, the National Association for Local Boards of Health, the National Environmental Health Association, and the National Public Health Leadership Development Network.

For more information on all Project Public Health Ready sites and tools and resources they have developed, go to www.naccho.org/topics/emergency/pphr.cfm.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is among the largest metropolitan health departments in the country, providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services that achieve and sustain safer and healthier communities for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County. Answering the needs of an increasingly diverse population, Public Health - Seattle & King County touches people's lives every day through health promotion and prevention activities, disease surveillance, health care, outreach and referral services, environmental health services, emergency medical care, jail health services, and readiness and response to public health emergencies.

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