Public Health Accreditation and Prevention Status Reports Crosswalk

Standard 1.1: Participate in or Lead a Collaborative Process Resulting in a Comprehensive Community Health Assessment

Standard 1.1 addresses state/community health assessment activities, which include the requirement to use data from a variety of sources.

Relationship to PSRs:  The data highlighted in the Public Health Problem section of the PSR state reports can contribute to data used to describe the health of a population and contributing factors that affect health outcomes.

Standard 1.3: Analyze Public Health Data to Identify Trends in Health Problems, Environmental Public Health Hazards, and Social and Economic Factors that Affect the Public’s Health

Standard 1.3 requires health departments to analyze health data to identify trends and factors that affect health.

Relationship to PSRs:  Per PHAB guidance, the PSRs offer the opportunity to “use reports produced by CDC” to disseminate data analysis and health findings to various audiences on a variety of public health issues. The public health burden and status data found in the Public Health Problem section of the PSR state reports can be used to support this PHAB standard.

Standard 1.4: Provide and Use the Results of Health Data Analysis to Develop Recommendations Regarding Public Health Policy, Processes, Programs, or Interventions

Standard 1.4 requires health departments to provide and use health data analysis to develop recommendations regarding public health policies, processes, programs, and interventions.

Relationship to PSRs:  The data highlighted in the Public Health Problem and Solutions and Ratings sections of the state PSRs can serve as a source of federal data as required by measure 1.4.2 (using data summaries from federal sources) as long as the state health department demonstrates how it supplemented the PSR data with additional data that it collected and analyzed.

Standard 3.1 requires health departments to promote population health by providing public health information that encourages the adoption of healthful behaviors and activities. As mentioned in measure 3.1.1, the information must be accurate, accessible, and actionable.

Relationship to PSRs:  The PSR state summaries and state topic reports (specifically, public health burden data and information) can be used as secondary data sources for gathering knowledge about health issues. Information from the policies and practices section of the state topic reports can be a source for evidence-based interventions. The PSRs are a tool for sharing and communicating this information in a clear and effective manner.

Standard 3.2 Provide Information on Public Health Issues and Public Health Functions Through Multiple Methods to a Variety of Audiences

Standard 3.2 requires health departments to have processes and procedures for communicating with external audiences. Processes and procedures should address both accessing information from outside sources and communicating to people outside of the department.

Relationship to PSRs:  The PSR state summaries and state topic reports can be used as external data sources about health issues and as tools for communicating this information to a wide variety of audiences.

Standard 4.1 addresses the need for health departments to engage the community members they serve in an ongoing dialogue about community issues, options, and alternatives. Community ownership increases the effectiveness of health improvement efforts.

Relationship to PSRs:  The PSR state summaries and state topic reports can be used as tools to educate and mobilize partners around specific policies and practices of importance.

Standard 4.2 addresses the need for health departments to engage the community, governing entities, advisory boards, and elected officials about policies and strategies that will promote the public’s health. Community input and support is an important public health tool in developing and implementing policies and strategies. It is important to gain community input to ensure that a policy or strategy is appropriate, feasible, and effective.

Relationship to PSRs:  The policies and practices highlighted in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports can be used to foster dialogue about establishing, implementing, and revising policies and practices to improve the community’s health.

Standard 5.1 requires that health departments play a central and active role in establishing policies and practices whenever governing entities, elected officials, governmental departments, or others set policies and practices that have public health implications.

Relationship to PSRs:  The PSRs serve as an important resource for health departments working to establish and maintain public health policies and practices. Such work includes monitoring policies under consideration, contributing to deliberations concerning public policy, and informing governing entities and others about the potential impacts of policies being considered. The policies and practices highlighted in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports can provide valuable information about evidence-based interventions and policies to consider regarding high-priority public health problems.

Standard 5.2 describes expectations for a health improvement planning process and for the plan that should result. Community members, stakeholders, and partners can use a solid community health improvement plan to set priorities, direct the use of resources, and develop and implement projects, programs, and policies.

Relationship to PSRs:  The policies and practices highlighted in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports and the state summaries can be used as a secondary data source to identify potential policy changes and to facilitate a dialogue about how to implement those changes.

Standard 5.3 addresses the requirement that health departments develop and implement an organizational strategic plan. This strategic plan focuses on the entire health department and provides a guide for making decisions about allocating resources and taking action to pursue strategies and priorities.

Relationship to PSRs:  The PSR state summaries and the state topic reports (specifically, the Public Health Problem and Solutions and Ratings sections) can be used by health departments to inform the priorities and activities included in organizational strategic planning.

Standard 6.1 addresses the need for health departments to work with the appropriate entities to change law when needed. Public health laws should be current with public health knowledge, practices, and emerging issues. Laws also may need to be revised to be current with societal actions and behaviors that place individuals or groups at health risk.

Relationship to PSRs:  The status of select policies and practices highlighted in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports (i.e., Alcohol-Related Harms, Food Safety, Motor Vehicle Injuries, and Tobacco Use) can be used to evaluate laws (existing and proposed) for consistency with evidence-based and expert-recommended public health practices.

Standard 6.2 highlights the responsibility of health departments to educate the public about public health laws and to inform community members about the meaning behind the law, the purpose for the law, the benefits of the law, and compliance requirements.

Relationship to PSRs:  Information in the Solutions and Ratings section of certain state topic reports (e.g., Alcohol-Related Harms, Food Safety, Motor Vehicle Injuries, and Tobacco Use) can be used as a tool for understanding the meaning and purpose of corresponding public health laws.

Standard 9.1 requires the health department to use a performance management system to monitor the performance of public health processes, programs, interventions, and other activities to effectively and efficiently improve the health of the population.

Relationship to PSRs:  Health departments can use the rating scales for the policies and practices found in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports and data in the National Summary as data sources for national expectations (e.g., “green” rating criteria) and information for data-driven processes anticipated through performance management.

Standard 9.2 requires that health departments implement a quality improvement program that involves regular use of quality improvement approaches, methods, tools, and techniques, as well as application of lessons learned from evaluation.

Relationship to PSRs:  Health departments can use the rating scales for the policies and practices found in the Solutions and Ratings section of the state topic reports and data in the National Summary as data sources for national expectations (e.g., “green” rating criteria) and information for data-driven processes anticipated through quality improvement.

Standard 10.1 highlights the importance of evidence-based public health practice, which requires that a health department use the best available evidence in making decisions and in ensuring the effectiveness of processes, programs, and interventions. Evidence-based practice assures that a health department’s resources are being used in the most effective manner. Health departments should access information about evidence-based practices and apply that information to their processes, programs, and interventions.

Relationship to PSRs:  The policy and practice solutions in the Solutions and Ratings section of state topic reports are a resource for information on what policies and practices are effective for addressing certain public health problems on the basis of established evidence or expert recommendations.

Standard 10.2 emphasizes the importance of effective communication between public health practitioners and the public, governing entities, and other audiences to encourage advocacy for research and to contribute to the science of public health. Health departments should encourage the use of research results, evaluations, and evidence-based practices.

Relationship to PSRs:  The policy and practice solutions in the Solutions and Ratings section of state topic reports can be used to communicate opportunities to implement evidence-based or expert-recommended practices that are based on research.