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Health officer asks Montgomery committee to support national reaccreditation
Summary
Montgomery's health officer, Divangi Patel, told the committee that national public health reaccreditation strengthens emergency response and competitiveness for grants (citing a past $95,000 grant) and asked the committee to place a resolution of support on the next agenda.
Divangi Patel, Montgomery Township's health officer, briefed the Township Committee on Feb. 20 about pursuing national public health reaccreditation and asked members to consider a formal resolution of support. "Accreditation holds us to higher national standards," Patel said, noting that accreditation improved the health department's ability to respond early during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped secure a $95,000 grant used for contact tracing and pandemic-response activities.
Patel said the Board of Health unanimously passed a supporting resolution and recommended the township committee likewise signal support by placing a resolution on an upcoming agenda. Committee members asked whether a township resolution is required; Patel said it would be "ideal" and that the township previously passed a resolution during its original accreditation effort.
Members expressed general support and asked staff to coordinate to add a resolution to the next meeting agenda so the committee can formally express support. Patel said the health department will also share the Board of Health's resolution with the committee and will provide more information on how reaccreditation helps access competitive funding.
In discussion, members praised the department's public outreach on current health issues, including an upcoming avian-flu notice Patel said the department will distribute to the community.
