County department of emergency management earns re-accreditation 

The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management earned its re-certification by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program May 31.

Pierce County is one of 19 counties nationally to be EMAP-accredited and was the first organization in FEMA Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho) to earn this honor. Pierce County is the second county west of the Mississippi to be re-accredited.

Accreditation recognizes the ability of programs to bring together personnel, resources, and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to a disaster of any type. By maintaining accredited status, Pierce County Emergency Management proved they adhere to the Emergency Management Standard.

“Congratulations to those programs that have maintained their accredited stwatus as well as those who have joined the elite leaders in emergency management having earned accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program,” said Robie Robinson, Executive Director of Public Safety, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and the EMAP Commission Chair.

– Pierce County

State Farm awards Summer Jobs 253 program $20,000 grant

For the second consecutive year, State Farm has awarded a $20,000 grant to the City of Tacoma for the Summer Jobs 253 program.

The grant funding received from State Farm is the largest private sponsorship the Summer Jobs 253 has received to date. The program, which receives City funding, also relies on participating employer contributions and sponsorships.

– City of Tacoma

Health Department awarded accreditation

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has achieved national accreditation status from the Public Health Accreditation Board. It is one of only five health departments in the state and one of fewer than 200 nationwide to meet PHAB’s stringent standards.

Site reviewers visited Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department March 8-9 after a two-year document review process.

The national accreditation program seeks to advance the quality of public health services at the nation’s 3,000 state, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments through an extensive standards and performance-based approach.

– Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department