Ventura County Public Health First in California to Receive National Accreditation

Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) announced today that it has achieved 5-year national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). VCPH is the first public health department in California to earn this important distinction.

The national accreditation program, jointly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, sets standards against which the nation’s more than 3,000 governmental public health departments can continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. To receive accreditation, VCPH underwent a voluntary rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets or exceeds a set of quality standards and measures.

"I couldn't be more proud of the VCPH team for helping us achieve this extraordinary accomplishment,” said Rigoberto Vargas, Ventura County Public Health Director.  “The accreditation process, which took more than two years to complete, is a testimony to our department’s hard work, dedication and ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.”

Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. In cities, towns, and states across the nation, health departments provide a range of services aimed at promoting healthy behaviors; preventing diseases and injuries; creating safer neighborhoods; administering life-saving immunizations; and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.

“I want to congratulate Ventura County Public Health on receiving national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board,” said Dr. Ron Chapman, California Department of Public Health director and state health officer.  “Accreditation is a distinction which means that the Ventura County Public Health department meets nationally accepted standards.  Many public health departments nationwide are preparing for accreditation but only a handful have actually achieved accreditation.  Ventura County is truly ahead of the pack.”

VCPH employs approximately 300 people, operates four clinics and seven Women, Infant & Children (WIC) centers and, frequently collaborates with medical providers, schools, businesses and community partners to mitigate health disparities and improve community access to care.

The national accreditation program was created collaboratively over a 10-year period by hundreds of public health practitioners working at the national, Tribal, state, and local levels. Since the program’s launch in September 2011, nearly 130 health departments have applied to PHAB for accreditation, and hundreds of public health practitioners from across the nation have been trained to serve as volunteer peer site visitors for the program.

To learn more Ventura County Public Health, visit www.vchca.org/public-health and to learn more about PHAB or sign up for the PHAB e-newsletter, visit www.phaboard.org.

Conejo Recreation and Park District is Finalist in National Gold Medal Program

Conejo Recreation and Park District chosen as a finalist for prestigious National Gold Medal Award

GREAT JOB CRPD! THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has selected the Conejo Recreation and Park District as a finalist in its 2012 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.  The District is one of four finalists in the population category of 100,000 – 250,000 people. Other finalists in this category include: The City of Round Rock (TX) Parks and Recreation Department; Rockford (IL) Park District; and South Suburban Park and Recreation District, Centennial, CO.  

NRPA’s Gold Medal program honors agencies throughout the United States which demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, environmental stewardship, professional development, program development, and agency recognition.   Chosen for their considerable knowledge and experience in parks and recreation on both local and national levels, a panel of five park and recreation professionals from throughout the country review and judge the comprehensive applications. 

Jim Friedl, General Manager of the Conejo Recreation and Park District said, “To be selected as a Gold Medal finalist is recognition on a national level that we share a place with the best recreation and park agencies in the nation.  We are fortunate to have a solid board, great staff, supportive and active residents, and outstanding community partnerships.” 

The next step in the National Gold Medal process is submission of a brief video highlighting the District’s achievements and commitment to community service in the region.  Grand Plaque Award-winning agencies will be announced at the 2012 NRPA conference, held in October in Anaheim.

For further information about CRPD’s selection as a National Gold Medal finalist, please contact the District at (805) 495-6471. www.crpd.org

Conejo Valley Resident, Plant Based Dietitian and Author to Appear on Dr. Oz Show

Julieanna Hever is a well known Plant Based Dietitian and author of recently published book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition. She's about to become even more well known as she makes an appearance on the Dr. Oz Show on Friday, October 28th at 3pm PST on ABC.

She will appear in two segments; one segment providing her experta advice regarding a whole food, plant-based diet; the other segment she makes and tastes three of the recipes from her book.

Julieanna is a plant-based dynamo. If you see her, you may well give up meat, sugar and other non plant-based foods in your diet...and feel great!  In fact she's appeared before here on CVG.

Learn more about Julieanna at www.toyourhealthnutrition.com.

Top Ventura County Area Finishers at the 2011 Boston Marathon

The 115th Boston Marathon was last Monday, Tax Day 2011. Aided by a nice tailwind in nice conditions, 2 incredible Kenyans run under 4:42 per mile pace over the 26.2 miles to finish in the fastest 2 marathon times ever recorded (at least by a human).

While the Kenyans stole the spotlight, there are some very worthy Ventura County-ans who did quite well in this year's Boston Marathon! Here they are and congratulations goes out to them!

• John Fedoroff, 41, of Thousand Oaks finished in 2:34:45, clobbering his previous personal best time at age 16 of 2 hours, 48 minutes. He was 143rd overall and 13th in his age division, but top Ventura County resident! Congrats John!
• Scott Hambly, 34, of Thousand Oaks, finished in 2:42:01 (264th overall, 202nd in age group)
• Noah Izzard, 31, of Ventura finished in 2:58:38, breaking under the 3 hour mark
• Steve Gonzalez, 39, Oxnard: 3:01:28
• Andrew Thompson, 28, Thousand Oaks: 3:05:01
• Barry Wallman, 59, Camarillo 3:05:15 (placed Barry 18th in his age group!)
• Heather Hicks, 21, Moorpark was top placing Ventura County woman in 3:15:19
• Rebecca Getman, 22, Calabasas (well almost Ventura County!) 3:18:16
• Erin Wharton, 27, Thousand Oaks: 3:19:27
• Marcus Marcuson, 40, Newbury Park: 3:21:33
• Phillip Wright, 54, Newbury Park: 3:22:21
• Cristie Jones, 28, Simi Valley: 3:22:26
• Kristin Whiting, 29, Ojai: 3:23:13
• Kevin Colwell, 45, Westlake Village: 3:24:11
• Sharon Pick, 44, Thousand Oaks: 3:24:20 (104th in age)
• Richard Person, 47, Thousand Oaks: 3:24:20
• Caleb Guevara, 41, Ventura: 3:25:45
• Tim McLain, 44, Thousand Oaks: 3:25:47
• Leanne Mohr, 25, Camarillo: 3:25:48

Westlake Village orthodontist William Hang at age 64 blitzed the course in 3 hours, 48 minutes, good for 141st in his age group!