Wood County Health Department High Standards Lead to Nationally Reaccredited
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2026
CONTACT: Sue Smith, Director/Health Officer
715-421-8928 / sue.smith@woodcountywi.gov
Wood County Health Department High Standards Lead to Nationally Reaccredited
(Wood County, WI) — The national Public Health Accreditation Board has recognized Wood County Health Department for earning reaccreditation. The department's achievement demonstrates its dedication to improving quality, accountability, and service for the communities it serves. Accreditation helps health departments find ways to improve their work, show they are trustworthy, build leadership skills, and strengthen connections with the community. It acts as a way to hold them accountable and make their actions clear to the public. Overall, it's an important step toward making public health better.
Departments earning reaccreditation reflect a sustained focus on performance improvement and community-centered practice. Every five years, the health department undergoes another review to maintain its accreditation status and ensure continued alignment with national expectations and evolving public health priorities. There are 96 local and tribal public health agencies in Wisconsin, and 20 of them are accredited.
"The Accreditation and Recognition processes are thorough and rigorous," said Public Health Accreditation Board President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. These departments demonstrate leadership, accountability, and a commitment to delivering the highest quality public health services to their communities. They join a growing network of more than 450 departments working to strengthen public health infrastructure."
"Reaccreditation is our ongoing promise to the community to lead with excellence, ensuring every resident benefits from a health department that is as innovative as it is reliable," said Sue Smith, Director-Health Officer at Wood County Health Department.
The Wood County Health Department is sharing this recognition during National Public Health Week, as it is a fitting time to highlight the importance of strong public health systems and the ongoing work being done to protect and improve community health.
For more information about this announcement or other public health accreditation news, please visit the Public Health Accreditation Board's website: phaboard.org.
For questions, contact the Wood County Health Department at 715-421-8911 or email health@woodcountywi.gov. For more Wood County Health Department news, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter at www.woodcountywi.gov/departments/health.
