PHAB has issued a Letter of Invitation to health departments to apply to partner with PHAB on the beta test. From applications received, PHAB will select 29 local, state and tribal departments of varying sizes, structures, capacities and locations to participate in a beta test program.

Selected public health departments will go through the entire accreditation process - including applying for accreditation, providing documentation and hosting a site visit. As part of the beta test, sites will be asked to provide comprehensive feedback on the accreditation process and areas for improvement.
 
Sites will receive funding to compensate for the time invested in providing feedback and reporting and for implementing quality improvement activities. With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, funding will be provided to each health department that participates in the beta test to support the departments' time and effort associated with the evaluation process and quality improvement activity. This funding will be administered to local health departments through a contract with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and to state, territorial and tribal health departments through a contract with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).
 
Throughout the beta test process, participating health departments will have the opportunity to receive hands-on technical assistance from national public health organizations, collaborate with and learn from other health departments by sharing knowledge and best practices, attend trainings, and engage in quality improvement practices that aim to advance the quality and performance of their services.
 
Applications from health departments must be received by PHAB no later than 5:30 ET, August 14, 2009. Health departments will be notified of the list of selected departments no later than September 18, 2009. Click here to view the Letter of Invitation and learn more about the Beta Test.