Ottawa County Public Health details plan-of-organization ahead of 2026 accreditation review

Ottawa County Public Health briefed the Planning & Policy Committee on its Cycle 9 Plan of Organization, a required submission to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for the county's accreditation review scheduled for May 2026.

Eddie, the department's health officer, outlined that the plan is a factual account of the department's structure and services required by the Michigan Public Health Code and is submitted on a three-year accreditation cycle. Key updates include a governance change (reporting to the Planning & Policy Committee), an updated appropriations reference to 2025 state appropriations, and a shift from a static PDF budget to an interactive online budget platform.

Staff reported current staffing at 109.67 full-time equivalents (FTEs), down from 122.76 in 2023 largely because COVID-response positions were deactivated. The plan also reflects investments in data and performance systems (migration to PowerBI, new data collection tools and e-learning platforms), expanded communications (added Instagram and LinkedIn and video content), and the new Food Safety Management Advisory Committee.

Eddie confirmed required attachments included an organizational chart, a change-comparison summary, and an approval form. He emphasized the plan describes programs already approved through previous budgets or state law and is part of a retrospective accreditation review by MDHHS.

Commissioners asked about the Youth Assessment Survey (YAS) opt-in and parental notification. Eddie said survey modules are optional for schools and that parental opt-in/out procedures are set by school districts; students decide whether to answer optional modules and the only required field is grade level for statistical purposes.

Next steps: Staff will submit the plan to MDHHS as part of the accreditation package and return to the board with any required follow-ups after the state's review.