Caldwell, Idaho – As local public health agencies nationwide work to protect the public from bioterrorism, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health threats, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has recognized Southwest District Health (SWDH) for its ability to respond to public health emergencies. SWDH was one of 14 public health agencies recognized nationwide, as “Public Health Ready”.

“We are proud to join the six other health districts in Idaho to make Idaho the first state to be recognized for our high level of preparedness, as Public Health Ready,” said Gene Gunderson, District Director of Southwest District Health. “Our cross-county interaction and planning has encouraged the counties, communities, and hospitals to discuss and plan together resulting in a stronger response, as well as camaraderie among the emergency responders.”

Gunderson stated that SWDH will continue to coordinate with community and county partners in southwest Idaho to ensure that they are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in the event of any type of an all-hazards emergency that might threaten the health of Idaho’s residents and visitors.

To gain this recognition, SWDH underwent extensive reviews conducted by Project Public Health Ready, a unique partnership program between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Project Public Health Ready required SWDH to accomplish goals in three key areas: preparedness planning; individual worker competence; and demonstration of readiness through drills and exercises. This recognition confirms that SWDH has an emergency response plan in place, the plan is appropriately connected to other emergency response plans, agency staff members are trained, and the plan is exercised and used during public health and other community emergencies. Additionally, agencies selected this year met a new standard requiring that emergency preparedness plans emphasize an all-hazards approach, instead of focusing on a single event or emergency.

“Our dedicated staff has spent countless hours in preparation for this certification,” added Gunderson.

Other agencies recognized this year are:

Santa Clara County Public Health Department — San Jose, CA
Okeechobee County Health Department — Okeechobee, FL
Panhandle Health District — Coeur D'Alene, ID
North Central District Health Department — Lewiston, ID
Central District Health Department — Boise, ID
South Central District Health Department — Twin Falls, ID
Southeast District Health Department — Pocatello, ID
District Seven Health Department — Idaho Falls, ID
Boston Public Health Commission — Boston, MA
Gallatin City-County Health Department — Bozeman, MT
Metropolitan Public Health Department of Nashville and Davidson County — Nashville, TN
Arlington County Public Health Division — Arlington, VA
Public Health-Seattle & King County — Seattle, WA
Wellesley Health Department — Wellesley, MA

“NACCHO commends SWDH 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 the agencies recognized.”

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.

Southwest District Health’s Public Health Preparedness Team encompasses the six counties in Southwest Idaho, including Adams, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Washington. The major activities of the Public Health Preparedness Program (PHP) include planning, workforce competency, and exercises and simulations. The PHP Program was initiated in July of 2002 through district grants from Idaho’s participation in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Preparedness; and Response for Bioterrorism Cooperative Agreement Responsibility to implement the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program that was added to PHP in August 2003.

For more information on SWDH’s Public Health Preparedness, visit www.southwestdistricthealth.com or Project Public Health Ready.