The new director of the Tippecanoe County Health Department says his biggest challenge will be earningfederal accreditation for the department through the Public Health Accreditation Board.
Craig Rich says that involves a rigorous assessment process to ensure the department meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.
He says eventually only accredited health departments will be eligible for federal funding.
Of the nation’s more than 3,000 public health departments, only 31 have achieved national accreditation so far.
None of them is in Indiana.
Rich succeeds Ron Cripe as director of the Tippecanoe County Health Department.
Cripe served as director since 1989, but resigned in April after several months on medical leave.