FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 04 2025
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov
DPHHS Public Health and Safety Division Maintains Top-Tier National Accreditation
The DPHHS Public Health and Safety Division (PHSD), along with the agency’s Family and Community Health Bureau, has once again secured a renewed national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), extending its current accreditation status for another five years.
This reaccreditation signifies the division's ongoing commitment to meeting PHAB's rigorous quality standards, and its continued capacity to evolve, improve, and advance the health of all Montanans.
"We are so pleased to again be recognized by PHAB for achieving national standards that foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said Stacy Campbell, Administrator for PHSD. "PHSD’s ongoing accreditation is a testament to our team's unwavering dedication to excellence as we aim to provide vital services that meet the unique needs of every community across Montana. "
PHAB is dedicated to transforming public health practice by championing performance improvement, robust infrastructure, and innovation. Supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the accreditation program establishes benchmarks against which governmental public health departments nationwide can continually enhance the quality of their services and performance.
PHSD initially achieved national accreditation through PHAB on November 16, 2016, following a thorough, peer-reviewed assessment process.
“Today's announcement reinforces that the division is not only meeting those standards but has made a long-term commitment to improve the state's health,” Campbell said. “Initial accreditation confirms our foundational public health capacities. Reaccreditation underscores our commitment to continuous improvement and performance advancement, relying on formalized, accountable processes guided by data.”
This data-driven approach allows the PHSD to prioritize and allocate resources effectively to address community needs. PHSD has partnered with local and tribal public health jurisdictions to identify specific community needs through standardized community health assessments (CHAs). Over the past year, the resulting CHAs have provided insights into action that will guide impactful public health programs and projects moving forward.
Montana's vast and diverse landscape presents unique public health challenges. The division actively engages communities through the State Health Assessment (SHA) to gather vital input, which then informs the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)—a strategic roadmap for addressing identified needs. The SHA & SHIP are available online here: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ahealthiermontana/
"We are pleased to see the Montana Public Health and Safety Division, along with many others, successfully maintaining their five-year PHAB accreditation," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, PHAB President and CEO. "This demonstrates that accreditation is not just a one-time achievement, but an ongoing commitment to excellence. By maintaining accreditation, these health departments reaffirm their dedication to continuous improvement and community health."
For more information about PHSD and the services it provides, visit https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/index.
To learn more about PHAB and national accreditation, visit www.phaboard.org.