Hunterdon County commissioners on June 17 approved the health department's application to pursue accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and approved several Chapter 159 budget resolutions adding grant revenues to the 2025 budget.
Director Lanza explained that PHAB accreditation aligns with the 10 essential public health services and requires a comprehensive submission of documentation demonstrating departmental capabilities in community health assessment, policy development, workforce development, quality improvement and emergency preparedness. He said the county expects PHAB review results in late 2026.
The board approved a package of Chapter 159 additions (budget adjustments to recognize grant revenues) read into the record. The items included: a Recycling Enhancement Act (REA) grant, $162,000; State fiscal year 2025 Arrive Together critical incident model grant, $90,800; ADA Compliance/Accessibility grant, $811.44; State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) grant, $34,000; a second‑section 5310 mobility management grant, $275,000; a fiscal year 2026 Personal Assistance Services Program allocation, $23,166; and the 2025 Clean Communities grant, $108,203.10. These grants were added via resolutions authorized under Chapter 159 of the Local Budget Law.
The board approved the Chapter 159 resolutions by motion and roll call. County staff thanked health department personnel for preparing the PHAB application materials and noted the accreditation process is extensive.
Several of the grants support transportation and services for older adults and persons with disabilities, while others fund environmental cleanup (Clean Communities) and recycling efforts; the SHIP and Personal Assistance Services Program grants are targeted to older adult/benefit assistance work. The board did not debate the programmatic details at length during the meeting; staff noted further implementation occurs within the appropriate departments.