26 May ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES THE ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT ACHIEVES NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION
Published on May 26, 2026
Essex County, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Tuesday, May 26th that the Essex County Office of Public Health Management has achieved national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), which is the gold standard for public health agencies in the United States.
“During the pandemic, we understood the importance of public health and made the investment to strengthen and expand our Office of Public Health Management. The public views our office as a trusted sources for information, education, vaccinations and testing, and the national accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing cutting-edge public health services,” DiVincenzo said. “Earning accreditation was a monumental undertaking, and I commend our staff for the hard work they do every day to serve our residents,” he added.
With this designation, Essex County becomes only the third county health department in New Jersey to receive national accreditation and the only accredited county health department in Northern New Jersey.
PHAB accreditation recognizes health departments that meet the highest national standards for public health performance, accountability, preparedness, and community service. The rigorous accreditation process evaluates agencies on emergency preparedness, disease prevention, environmental health, health equity, quality improvement, and community engagement.
“This is a tremendous milestone for Essex County and a major achievement for public health in our region,” Essex County Health Officer and Public Health Management Director Maya Harlow said. “This accreditation confirms that Essex County residents are receiving public health services that meet nationally recognized standards of excellence,” she added.
National accreditation strengthens Essex County’s ability to expand partnerships, enhance emergency preparedness, compete for future funding opportunities, and continue delivering high-quality public health services to the communities it serves.
This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of County staff, municipal partners, healthcare systems, emergency response agencies, and community organizations throughout Essex County.
The Essex County Office of Public Health Management partners with RWJBarnabas Health to offer a Vaccination for Children Program and Mobile Health Unit, serves as the LINCs agency and provides educational information for residents. It has gained national recognition for its use of artificial intelligence to track and analyze health risks in the community and is the first County public health agency to become a teaching agency through its partnership with Montclair State University.
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