The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health underwent reviews conducted by Project Public Health Ready, a first-of-its-kind partnership program developed by NACCHO with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Columbia University Center for Public Health. Project Public Health Ready was established to help define local public health preparedness and develop a standard set
of goals by which preparedness could be measured.

"We are proud to have been recognized by Project Public Health Ready for our high level of preparedness," said Ron Osterholm, Health Director of the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. "Our staff committed time above and beyond normal work hours to assure daily functions and services were accomplished while meeting the challenging requirements of Project Public Health Ready. Our staff performed admirably though knowing there were no financial or incentive gains. They did it to further advance community safety and I commend them for that," continued Osterholm "We will continue to improve our ability to quickly and effectively respond to any public health crisis in Cerro Gordo," said Osterholm.

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health entered into a partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the University of Iowa College of Public Health to receive assistance in training, plan review and exercise execution.

To gain recognition, Project Public Health Ready required the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health to achieve goals in three key areas:
1). preparedness planning
2). individual worker competence
3). demonstration of readiness through drills and exercises.

The recognition confirms that the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health 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.

"Under the direction of Ron Osterholm, the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has achieved elite national status," said Chris Atchison, associate dean for public health practice and director of the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedness at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. "Their designation as Public Health Ready certifies their preparation to protect the health and safety of residents in Cerro Gordo County, and sets a high standard for others in the state who are working to assure the health of Iowans. It has been our privilege to partner with them throughout this successful process."

Other agencies recognized include:
Allentown City Health Bureau - Allentown, PA
Berkeley City Public Health Department - Berkeley, CA
Kansas City Health Department - Kansas City, MO
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services - Rockville, MD
Seminole County Health Department - Sanford, FL
Tarrant County Public Health Department - Fort Worth, TX
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department - Olympia, WA
Tulsa City-County Health Department - Tulsa, OK
Needham Health Department - Needham, MA
Winnebago County Health Department - Rockford, IL

"NACCHO commends the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health on its preparedness for a public health emergency," said Patrick Libbey, executive director of NACCHO. "The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has helped to establish a model for ensuring complete public health emergency preparedness for the citizens of our country."

Local public health agencies that sought recognition underwent an evaluation process that included reviews by peer agencies and by three members of the Project Public Health Ready Oversight Council. The Council consists of eight local health officials and organizational liaisons from the Association of Schools of Public Health, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association for Local Boards of Health, the National Environmental Health Association, and the Public Health Foundation. NACCHO, CDC, and Columbia University Center for Public Health staff assist the Oversight Council.

Read more about Project Public Health Ready at the National Association of County and City Health Officials web site.

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