O2SL and QRT National would like to congratulate the Nebraska-based Panhandle Situation Table, spearheaded by the Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD), for receiving the distinguished Model Practice Award as presented by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). This annual award serves to recognize local public health programs demonstrating exemplary, reproducible approaches and strategies in response to a critical public health crisis in their community. The Panhandle Situation Table program will be added to NACCHO’s Model Practice online database, which is accessible to other public health officials looking for best practices to adopt in their local communities.
The Panhandle Situation Table is comprised of multiple agencies such as Law Enforcement, First Responders, Mental Health Professionals, Social Services, Schools, Hospitals, and Community Support Services that collaborate to rapidly triage Acutely Elevated Risk situations to connect individuals and families to much needed support, reaching those who may be at highest levels of composite risk in the community or often fall through the cracks in the system.
The PPHD Director Kim Engel also received the inaugural National Champion of Local Governmental Public Health Award during the 2024 NACCHO 360 Annual Conference held in Detroit, Michigan, in late July. This award recognizes the significant and tireless efforts of people or agencies to promote the visibility and advancement of impactful public health initiatives under the NACCHO umbrella. PPHD and the Panhandle Situation Table are truly leading by example.
Featured image a courtesy of News Channel Nebraska
Panhandle Public Health District