County Public Health Department achieves Public Health Accreditation Board Reaccreditation

DPH secures five-year reaccreditation from PHAB, reaffirming its commitment to quality and accountability.

On Feb. 12, the San Bernardino County Public Health Department achieved national reaccreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), reaffirming the department’s ongoing commitment to performance and continuous quality improvement.

“Accreditation affirms that we are not only meeting rigorous national standards but are actively strengthening how we deliver public health services,” said Josh Dugas, director of Public Health. “Our focus remains on innovation, accountability and measurable improvement to ensure residents receive high-quality, responsive services.”

Public Health first earned accreditation in March 2019, becoming the 14th local health department in California to achieve this distinction. PHAB requires a comprehensive review every five years to maintain accreditation status and assess Public Health’s capability of addressing 20 evidence-based standards and 63 measures, demonstrating progress in performance and quality improvement. As part of its review, PHAB conducted a virtual site visit on Dec. 15, 2025, which included interviews with county and Public Health leadership and staff. PHAB commended Public Health’s leadership, governance, dedicated workforce, culture of innovation, strong community partnerships and strategic planning framework.

Public Health’s leadership extends appreciation to the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Office for their continued support, and to department staff whose extraordinary dedication to promoting, improving, and protecting health, wellness, safety and quality of life in San Bernardino County made achieving this milestone possible.

To learn more about Public Health and public health accreditation, visit dph.sbcounty.gov and phaboard.org.

Additional County Update News – Feb. 26, 2026