Sacramento, California - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), it was announced by Dr. Ron Chapman, CDPH Director and State Health Officer. California, with its more than 38 million residents, is the largest state to have its public health department achieve such an accomplishment.

“Since California is the most populous state in the United States, the accreditation of the California Department of Public Health is a significant achievement for the citizens of that state and for the country as a whole,” said PHAB President and CEO Kaye Bender. “Accreditation means that more than 38 million people are assured that their state health department is committed to assessing their performance against national standards and improving their services accordingly. The leadership of the department and the commitment of the staff to achieving this milestone are to be commended. We were impressed by the Site Visitors’ observation that many programs and strategies of the California Department of Public Health can serve as national models and that the Department has a culture of quality, professionalism, and service that is evident throughout the Department."

"This is an important achievement and recognition that highlights the state of California’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness on the part of all of our residents," said Dr. Chapman. "I am proud to serve among the scientists, staff and other professionals at CDPH who provide exceptional services to our communities and populations. It is an honor to be recognized nationally for meeting very high standards of excellence.”

The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation's more than 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. To receive accreditation, a health department must undergo a peer-reviewed rigorous, meticulous and multi-faceted assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures. Accreditation is maintained for five years.

"This recognition is a great tribute to the women and men of the state Department of Public Health and our partners throughout California’s county and community public health programs,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley. “California has the nation’s second-oldest state health department in the country, and since 1870, it has been delivering measurable benefits in health status for all Californians.”

“CDPH is committed to quality performance, transparency, and accountability,” Dr. Chapman says. “We will continue to improve as we maintain accreditation over time. This will help us reach our goal to make California the healthiest state in the country."