July 3, 2025
Media Contact: Mary Chamberlin, mary.chamberlin@vdh.virginia.gov, (804)-895-4235
Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Receives National “Project Public Health Ready” Recognition
Prepared to Protect Community from Public Health Emergencies, Disasters
CULPEPER, Va. – The Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District (RRHD) received recognition from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for its ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.
RRHD demonstrated these capabilities by meeting the comprehensive preparedness benchmarks required by Project Public Health Ready (PPHR), a unique partnership between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RRHD joins a cohort of more than 550 local health departments across the country that have been distinguished for excellence in preparedness through PPHR, either individually or as part of a region.
“This re-recognition by Project Public Health Ready is a powerful affirmation of our team’s dedication to protecting the health and safety of every person in the Rappahannock-Rapidan region,” said Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Director James B. Carr, M.D. “Preparedness doesn’t happen by chance – it’s the result of tireless training, coordination, and commitment. We’re proud to lead with readiness and resilience, and we will continue working every day to keep our communities safe.”
PPHR recognition confirms that Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District has a thorough and coordinated emergency response plan in place and that staff have the training to protect the health of the community during an emergency. Local health departments recognized by PPHR undergo a rigorous evaluation by peer review to assess their ability to meet a set of national standards for public health preparedness. These standards align with federal government requirements and other national best practices.
PPHR recognition also requires health departments to collaborate with their state, local, and community partners to develop plans that account for all the constituents in their jurisdictions.
“Public health preparedness planning, response, and recovery begins at the local level. Local health departments play an essential role in creating healthy, resilient communities that can respond to and recover from disasters.” said NACCHO Chief Executive Officer Lori T. Freeman. “NACCHO commends RRHD for being a model of public health emergency preparedness.”
NACCHO, the voice of the nearly 3,000 local health departments across the country, provides resources to help local health department leaders develop public health policies and programs to ensure that communities have access to vital programs and services that people need to keep them protected from disease and disaster. Its mission is to be a leader, partner, catalyst, and voice for local health departments in order to ensure the conditions that promote health and equity, combat disease, and improve the quality and length of all lives.
RRHD serves the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock. For more information about RRHD, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/rappahannock-rapidan/.
For more information on PPHR, including recognized sites, project tools, and resources, visit www.naccho.org/PPHR.
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