Apply for an Award
Each year, NACCHO recognizes the remarkable accomplishments of local health departments and health officials through the following awards. Winners are honored at a special ceremony and reception at the NACCHO 360 Conference.
The following awards are currently accepting applications. Please use the links below to begin your application.
Below are descriptions for all annual awards, including eligibility and submission requirements. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Every year, the Model Practices Program honors and recognizes outstanding local public health practices and shares them through the Model Practices Database. By submitting a practice, local health departments contribute to the overall improvement of public health through effective evidence-based initiatives.
The 2023 Model Practices Program award winners will be announced later this spring and honored at the 2023 NACCHO 360 Conference in Denver, CO. Learn more about the Model Practices Program by visiting the Model Practices webpage.
Applications for the 2024 Model Practices will open October 31, 2024.
2023 Applications
The 2023 National Champion of Local Governmental Public Health Award application will open this spring.
About the Award
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is pleased to announce the establishment of a new annual “National Champion of Local Governmental Public Health Award.”
This award gives recognition to outstanding, significant, and innovative activities and accomplishments by an individual, agency or organization that has consistently or, in an extraordinary way, promoted the visibility, resources for, importance of, and recognition of local governmental health departments or NACCHO on a national basis. It is hoped that the award will encourage others to act in a similar vein.
Eligibility
The recipient (s) of this award will demonstrate the following achievements:
- Significant activities and accomplishments to the field of local public health
- Demonstrated service to the advancement and impact to local public health
- Commitment, skill and effort demonstrated on behalf of local public health
The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, May 3, 11:59 PM PST.
The award recipient will be selected in the spring and recognized at the 2023 NACCHO360 Conference, July 10–13 in Denver.
NACCHO remembers Maurice “Mo” Mullet, MD, who passed away on September 7, 2014. Mullet’s distinguished career in public health inspired NACCHO’s “Mo Mullet Lifetime of Service Award,” which honors local health officials for noteworthy service that reflects Mullet’s commitment, vigor, and leadership. To view Mullet’s obituary, click here.
About the Award
NACCHO’s Mo Mullet Lifetime of Service Award honors local health officials for noteworthy service that reflects Mullet’s commitment, vigor, and leadership. Mo Mullet was a NACCHO board member for three years, vice president for four years, and president from 1992 to 1994. During his career, Mullet achieved statewide and national recognition as a leader among local health officials and in the field of public health.
Eligibility
The career of the recipient of this award will demonstrate the following achievements:
- Leadership among local health departments demonstrated by energetic volunteer service to NACCHO
- Significant contributions to the field of local public health practice as a leader and representative of NACCHO
- Commitment, skill, and effort demonstrated on behalf of NACCHO
Previous Winners
2022: Bruce Dart, PhD
2019: Carol Moehrle, RN, BSN
2017: Marty Wasserman, MD, JD
2016: Patrick M. Libbey
2015: Patrick Lenihan, PhD, MUPP
2014: Joan Ellison, RN, MPH
2013: Mary Selecky
2012: Robert Harmon, MD, MPH
The National Advocate of the Year Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments related to advocacy and outreach to Members of the United States Congress to better health policy outcomes.
About the Award
Many factors go into policymaking decisions. Successful advocacy does not necessarily mean Congress changed or implemented a policy, law or funding level based on recommendations. However, a successful advocate will develop a meaningful relationship with a lawmaker and their staff, and become a trusted messenger and resource in public health matters. Lawmakers are not experts in public health policy, and they rely on their staff and constituents like local health officials to educate them on policy and fiscal matters in order to craft legislation that keeps Americans healthy and safe..
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are any local health department staff. To apply for this award, applicants must show documentation of their advocacy efforts. The awardee(s) will be selected by NACCHO’s Past Presidents Council and will be notified in the spring. The awardee(s) will be recognized at NACCHO 360. There is no application fee for the submission process.
How to Apply
The 2023 application will open in March 2023.
Applicants are asked to provide a detailed yet concise description (500 words maximum) of their advocacy work to address public health issues at the federal level. NACCHO members may nominate another NACCHO member or themselves. Winning applications should include at least one of the following:
I. Virtual Activities
- Wrote and sent a personalized letter to a Member of Congress
- Talked with Congressional Staff by phone
- Tweeted at a Member of Congress
- Wrote an op-ed in a local or national publication promoting the work of public health
- Sent a NACCHO-prepared email to a Member of Congress
- Posted on a Member of Congress’ Facebook wall
II. Meeting Activities
- Met with a Member of Congress and/or Congressional staff at their Washington, D.C. or district office
III. Cultivate Third Party Validators
- Cultivate leaders outside of local health
department to speak in support of the
department’s priorities and/or funding.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection: This award honors local environmental health jurisdictions that demonstrate unsurpassed achievement in providing outstanding food protection services to their communities.
Innovative Practice Award: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, NACCHO developed the Innovative Practice Award to recognize and honor programs and practices that have been quickly and/or creatively developed in response to a specific and emerging public health issue. You can see all past awarded Innovative Practice Awards in our Model Practice Database.
NACCHO is proud to announce its 2022 Innovative Practice Award Winners. Visit the Innovative Practice Award Database to learn more about the award-winning programs developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Presented to | for an innovative program |
|---|---|
| Albany County Department of Health | Collaboration to Advance Mobile COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Communities |
| County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency | San Diego County COVID-19 Response - Academic Detailing by Zip Code |
| Florida Department of Health in Seminole County | Community Integrated Mobile Health Services |
| Jefferson County Department of Health | Online Naloxone Program |
| Broome County Health Department | Broome County Mobile COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site |
| Pima County Health Department | Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 in Communities of Color |
| Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County | Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in People Experiencing Homelessness |
| Metro Denver Partnership for Health | COVID-19 Response |
| Presented to | for an innovative program |
|---|---|
| County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency | Operationalizing the Live Well San Diego Framework: a Population Health Approach to COVID19 Pandemic |
| Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Virtual Programming to Expand Chronic Disease Education |
| Northampton Health Department | Regional Face Mask Distribution Program |
| Oswego County Health Department | Phone Bank to Promote Health Equity in the Pandemic Response in a Rural County |
| Rensselaer County Department of Health | Naloxone Now- Free Contactless Delivery of Narcan |
| Presented to | for an innovative program |
|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County Department of Health | Strengthening Families Program |
| Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health | Promoting Influenza Vaccine During a Pandemic: Strategies from Local Public Health |
| County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency | Operationalizing the Live Well San Diego Framework during the COVID-19 Pandemic: COVID-19 Prevention Hygiene Kit Distribution Program |
| County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency | Cross-border (San Diego-Tijuana) COVID-19 collaboration |
| El Paso County Public Health | Supporting Data-based Dialogue During the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| Florida Department of Health in Broward County | Implementation of Mass Prophylaxis Plan for COVID19 Testing |
| Florida Department of Health in Broward County | COVID PH Safety: Fit Testing and Don/Doff Training: AHCA, County, Nat'l Guard, DOH, Nurses |
| Franklin County Health Department | COVID 19 Testing Drive Thru Clinics |
| Houston Health Department | Better. Together. COVID-19 Communications and Outreach Campaign |
| Johnson County Public Health | Integration Of An Online Survey Tool To Streamline COVID-19 Case Investigations |
| Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness | Health Equity During a Pandemic |
| Nassau County Department of Health | COVID-19 Workforce Response |
| NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | Adapting in a Time of Crisis: A New Style of Providing Technical Assistance |
| PHSKC Environmental Health Services Division | Safe Start for Taverns & Restaurants (SSTAR) Program |
| Public Health – Seattle & King County | Monitoring & evaluation of COVID-19 impacts on social, economic & overall health |
| San Antonio Metropolitan Health District | Congregate Settings COVID Response Team |
| San Antonio Metropolitan Health District | Community Outreach & Communications: San Antonio’s Approach to COVID-19 in Communities of Color |
| Snohomish Health District | Child Care Health Outreach Program, Maternal & Child Health, Prevention Services |
| Tarrant County Public Health | Adapting Delivery - Curbside WIC Services During COVID-19 |
| Tri-County Health Department | Developing a Homegrown, GIS-Based COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Software System by Leveraging Existing Internal Technology |
| Presented to | for an innovative program |
|---|---|
| Alexandria Health Department | ALX Promise: Bridging Public Health and Economic Recovery |
| Town of Brookline | Brookline Department of Public Health |
| Carlton County Public Health & Human Services | Drive Through Immunization Clinic |
| Cobb & Douglas Public Health | Power in Truth: The 2020 Virtual Experience |
| County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency | Community Health Worker Communication and Outreach Services |
| Denver Public Health | Innovative data integration techniques to streamline COVID Case Management |
| El Paso County Public Health | COVID-19 Regional Recover Council: A Balanced Approach to Public and Economic Health |
| Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County | Transforming WIC Program Services to Provide Uninterrupted Access to Care |
| Florida Department of Health – St. Lucie | Drive Thru HIV/STI Testing |
| Harris County Public Health | Evaluating the COVID-19 Response through an In-Action Review (IAR) |
| Houston Health Department | Houston COVID-19 Testing Plan to Address Access and Equity |
| Ionia County Health Department | Providing Fruits and Vegetables to At-Risk Families during the COVID-19 Crisis |
| Jefferson County Department of Health | Public Safety Expedited COVID-19 Testing Program |
| Maricopa County Environmental Services Department | Introducing Virtual Food Safety Inspections at Long-Term Care and Other Food-Related Facilities |
| Madison County Department of Health | SARS-CoV2 Early Warning Surveillance Platform (SARS2-EWSP) |