View the complete Standards and Measures Information for Domain 12 [pdf]

Domain 12 focuses on the health department’s support and engagement of its governing entity in maintaining and strengthening the public health infrastructure for the jurisdiction served. Governing entities both directly and indirectly influence the direction of a health department and should play a key role in accreditation efforts. However, much variation exists regarding the structure, definition, roles, and responsibilities of governing entities.

A governing entity, as it relates to the accreditation process, should meet the following criteria:

1. It is an official part of Tribal, state, or local government.
2. It has primary responsibility for policy-making and/or governing a Tribal, state, or local health department.
3. It advises, advocates, or consults with the health department on matters related to resources, policy making, legal authority, collaboration, and/or improvement activities.
4. It is the point of accountability for the health department.
5. In the case of shared governance (more than one entity provides governance functions to the health department), the governing entity, for accreditation purposes, is the Tribal, state, regional, or local entity that, in the judgment of the health department applying for accreditation, has the primary responsibility for supporting the applicant health department in achieving accreditation.