Morgan County Health Department Earns National Accreditation for Public Health Excellence

MCCONNELSVILLE, Ohio–A major milestone for public health in Morgan County—official recognition on a national level.

The Morgan County Health Department has earned national accreditation.

The designation was awarded by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the only national accrediting body for public health departments across the U.S. The rigorous, multi-step process ensures departments meet high standards in public health service, from disease prevention to emergency preparedness.

“Before a trip to the doctor’s office, before a trip to the emergency room or to a pharmacy, public health is working constantly to, around the globe, actually to prevent injury and prevent disease,” said Jeff Michaels, Morgan County Public Health Department administrator.

The accreditation isn’t just a badge of honor—it represents years of work toward better systems, stronger partnerships, and a more proactive approach to protecting the community. For the Morgan County Health Department, it’s a step toward even greater impact.

“The accreditation is a national honor and it’s awarded by the public health accreditation board after a health department meets the national set of standards, and we did meet those national set of standards and we’re very proud of that,” Michaels said.

Morgan County’s public health team says the journey toward accreditation helped them identify new opportunities in areas like workforce development, communication strategies, and community engagement.