PHAB’s Pathways Recognition Program supports local, Tribal, and US territories/freely associated states in improving performance, strengthening infrastructure, and transforming public health systems. It emphasizes key public health practices like assessment, community partnerships, equity, organizational skills, policy development, accountability, emergency preparedness, and communication.

Benefits of Pathways Recognition

• Enhancing the department’s operations to better serve the community;
• Receiving an objective performance review by an external entity based on national standards;
• Identifying opportunities for improvement and facilitating ongoing efforts to address them;
• Gaining recognition for the department’s efforts to support accountability both internally and externally;
• Engaging with peer departments for shared learning and collaboration; and
• Making progress toward accreditation, as work completed through Pathways can contribute to meeting Initial Accreditation requirements.

Key Features of Pathways Recognition

• Cohort-Based Approach: Pathways cohorts run three times a year for six months, involving multiple departments.
• Learning Communities: Optional virtual sessions during the Documentation Submission step, covering topics like team building, preparing documentation, and using e-PHAB.
• Additional Support: Extra guidance and Q&A opportunities to help applicants, including practice documentation reviews.

Pathways can also prepare departments for Initial Accreditation by PHAB. The program has two tracks:

• Track 1: Services and Partnerships
• Track 2: Health Department Systems

Departments can achieve Pathways Recognition by completing both tracks or Pathways Acknowledgment by completing one. Success in either track can contribute to pursuing initial accreditation.

PHAB launched the first Pathways cohort in Summer 2023 and has since facilitated three cohorts. Seven health departments have participated in these cohorts and the learning community.  PHAB recently announced that the first local health department to achieve Pathways Recognition was Siskiyou County Health Department. This achievement assures that the department performs the essential Foundational Capabilities necessary to serve their community.

If your department is interested in learning more about the Pathways Recognition process, we have resources for you!

• Pathways Recognition Standards & Measures
• Pathways Recognition Policy
• Pathways Recognition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Pathways Recognition Fee Structure
• 7 Steps to Accreditation or Pathways Recognition

Additionally, PHAB is launching a new self-paced training available on Pathways Recognition, available to everyone. You can access this training through our Learning Center here: Bridge (bridgeapp.com)