Get Healthy: Department gets grant to pursue accreditation

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

Carson City Health and Human Services has been awarded a grant from the National Association on City and County Health Officials to enhance the Department’s accreditation efforts. The grant, for $38,000, will be used to pay fees associated with the accreditation process, subsidize staff time and implement staff development opportunities.

The Public Health Accreditation Board opened the process for accreditation in fall 2011, and CCHHS was initially involved as a beta test site for the process. “The beta test process opened our eyes to some improvements that would need to take place to pursue accreditation for CCHHS, and we have been addressing those goals ever since,” said Valerie Cauhape, a Public Health Program specialist who heads up the accreditation process.

Nicki Aaker, Carson City Health and Human Services director, is looking forward to the opportunities that this new funding will afford the department. “I am so excited that we were awarded this grant. This will really help us move forward with our accreditation efforts,” she said. “One thing we are working on is to organize a public health accreditation professional development conference for staff, the Board of Health, and other partners. We will be bringing a national speaker to Carson City to present the opening and closing sessions highlighting Public Health accreditation.”

Accreditation is important to demonstrate performance based on national standards, and could open the door to future funding for Carson City Health and Human Services. Department staffers are working to achieve accreditation and, as always, to provide the highest level of service.

Don’t forget, CCHHS is holding our annual Food for Flu food drive to benefit FISH. Simply bring two cans of food to the Health Department anytime this week and receive a free flu shot.

There is no need to make an appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted for flu shots during normal clinic hours. For more information about other Health Department services, check out our website at gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us at facebook.com/cchhs.