Mecklenburg County Public Health Receives Accreditation with Honors from State Board

Dr. Raynard Washington and members of Public Health stand in the first two rows of the CMGC meeting chamber holding a sign that says promoting and protecting the public's health.

 Mecklenburg County Public Health has been accredited with honors by the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board (NCLHD). Accreditation is a status granted to a local health department that has demonstrated or exceeded the standards set by NCLHD. Public Health was recognized for this achievement by the Board of County Commissioners at its May 20 meeting.

“We are excited to receive accreditation with honors from the North Carolina Accreditation Board,” said Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington. “Thanks to the tireless work and dedication of our staff, Mecklenburg County Public Health has met the highest standards possible and will remain committed to our mission of protecting and promoting health for all.” 

The North Carolina accreditation process seeks to assure and enhance the quality of local health departments by evaluating their ability to meet a list of requirements that align with the 10 essential public health functions. After providing necessary documentation and completing an on-site visit in March, NCLHD determined that Mecklenburg County Public Health met 147 out of 147 of the requirements listed to receive the highest designation of accreditation with honors. A minimum of 131 activities must be met to receive accreditation.

Public Health leaders recently attended the NCLHD Board meeting to receive this designation. During the meeting, Mecklenburg County was recognized for its best practices in community-driven HIV care and prevention, and for having strong support for public health from the Board of County Commissioners.

Accreditation in North Carolina occurs on a four-year cycle. However, this was a six-year cycle due to the COVID-19 pandemic.