Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program

Nationally recognized by Project Public Health Ready 

We are the only public health department in Minnesota that is nationally recognized by Project Public Health Ready. 

Project Public Health Ready is a criteria-based training and recognition program that assesses local health department capacity and capability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. This program is a collaboration between the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the CDC. To get recognized, we created and implemented a plan for all types of emergencies, identified training needs, developed a workforce plan, and demonstrated readiness through exercises or real events.

Foundations of public health emergency preparedness and response

There are 15 CDC public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities that guide and inform our work. Each of these capabilities provides a specific set of functions that are critical to meeting the demands and unique challenges that arise during public health emergencies.  

What programs aim to improve the performance of our work?

To maintain accountability and ensure that emergency plans are in place and effectively prepared for public health emergencies, there are three national programs that have been established. These programs are designed to improve the overall performance of public health emergency preparedness initiatives. The following programs below promote a complete approach to emergency preparedness and provide guidance on the development of plans, training, and evaluation of response efforts. We follow these programs to make sure we are meeting nationally recognized standards for preparedness, while also improving our overall capacity to protect the health and wellbeing of the public.   

• Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) focuses on assessing our readiness for emergencies.
• Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) is a comprehensive evaluation of our overall performance.
• Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) is an initiative to improve preparedness and response capabilities.

We work collaboratively with other agencies to prepare for and ensure a coordinated response to natural and man-made threats, including:

• Hennepin County Emergency Management
• Metro Health & Medical Preparedness Coalition
• Minnesota Department of Health
• Minneapolis Health Department
• Bloomington Public Health Center

We also partner with other agencies such as Emergency Medical Services (EMS), long-term care facilities, schools, fire and police departments, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations.