New Releases 
Annual Report Video Released!
We are excited to share the release of our 2021-2022 Annual Report! Through a three-minute, fun video, you can review a summary of all of the great work the NCLHD Accreditation community accomplished together last year to relaunch accreditation this fall. Along with the Annual Report, we also share a budget summary detailing last year’s budget and this year’s projected budget.
Spring Training Schedule
Did you miss this September’s Accreditation 101: New AAC Training? Are you preparing to grow your accreditation team and curious of training opportunities? Have no fear! Start saving the dates now for our Spring 2023 training series:
- Bi-Annual Dashboard Webinar – Monday, April 17 from 10 am-12 pm, Zoom, no cost
- Accreditation 101: New AAC Training – Tuesday, April 18 from 10 am-3 pm in the Triangle area, $25 registration fee
Registration for both training opportunities will open on Wednesday, January 4. The Dashboard Webinar is a pre-requisite for Accreditation 101: New AAC Training.
Message from the Accreditation Administrator
Amy is having some minor, and hopefully short-term, health issues. She is still working, but may take longer to get back to you. As always, you are welcome to email NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu with any questions to get a prompt answer!
Accreditation in Action
External Opportunity to Speak Up for your Health Department’s Needs
The North Carolina Institute for Public Health, in partnership with the Division of Public Health, is recruiting supervisors/managers who are not a part of health departments’ top leadership team for focus groups this fall. This project is a part of a Foundational Capabilities Gap Analysis to find out which areas of our health departments most need resources to provide foundational services in our communities across the state. They just finished up the survey component of the analysis and got over 2,500 responses—thanks to many of you! Now they are looking to hear from health department staff in their own words about the strengths and needs they experience. The discussions will center on the gaps identified in a prior survey and what resources would be required to provide foundational services that meet the needs of the whole community. Volunteers for the focus groups can nominate themselves here: https://go.unc.edu/nominate-focusgroup.
Focus groups will be scheduled for each region, ideally with at least one participant from each county. Focus groups will be conducted virtually in October and November and selected participants will receive invitations two weeks prior to the group. After the group, participants can enter into a raffle for one of ten $100 Visa gift cards to be distributed in December.
Equity Related Resources
As we communicate accreditation updates through monthly highlights, we also have an opportunity to share existing resources that can help support equity related accreditation activities, including accessible training opportunities. Please email us if you have resources you would like to share in this space!
Equal Employment Opportunity Resources through NC OSHR
Are you sitting down to review and implement your non-discrimination policy? Or more generally review your human resources practices? If so, check out the compilation of materials available on the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources page outlining Diversity & Inclusion resources. While some of their information is more specifically tailored to state employees, their site includes a list of Equal Employment Opportunity related federal and state laws that may be useful to review in considering your agency’s policies. They also have a Diversity Recruitment Resources page with ideas on how to reach more diverse audiences with job posting information.
Key Dates
Wednesday, October 5: Office Hours, 9:30-10:30 am
Virtual. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required. Register.
Friday, November 18: November Board Meeting, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
Hybrid in Raleigh and on Zoom. Board meetings are open to the public. Please contact NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu if you need more information.
Interested in exploring all upcoming events? Check out our Calendar page online!
Stories from the Field
Thoughtful AAC transitions
As we know, there has been a lot of transition at health departments and specifically among accreditation staff in the recent months and years, and through those transitions, we have seen some great examples of transitioning well! Take Davidson County for example, who just navigated an AAC transition mid-site review. While Janna and Corinne wrapped up the final pieces of their site visits as co-AACs, they heavily involved Carrie, their new AAC, into the process so that she could learn the ropes. Now that they’re through their September site visit, Carrie is taking over Lead AAC responsibilities, with Janna staying on as her co-AAC. This is a fantastic example of how a co-AAC model can ease the stress of AAC transitions!
Need to update your agency’s AAC Contact List information? Send us an email at NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu with any changes you need to make, and be sure to forward this email along to any new staff members you have so that they too can subscribe at the bottom of the email!
We want to hear from you
Share your tips and tricks for accreditation success with other local health departments across the state. If you have a tip or trick that you would like to share, send a summary – no more than 500 words – including the activity addressed and any lessons learned. Please send your submission to NCLHDaccreditation@unc.edu. Stories will be shared via these monthly highlights.