02/27/2026
White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health Awarded National Accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board
Accreditation through PHAB demonstrates White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health’s commitment to excellence in serving the community and meeting foundational needs.
White Earth Nation, Minnesota — February 25, 2026 — White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health Department today announced it has been awarded national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), becoming the ninth Tribe in the nation and the first in Minnesota to achieve this distinction.
Established in 2007, PHAB is the nonprofit organization that administers the national accreditation program, which aims to advance and transform public health practice by championing performance improvement, strong infrastructure, and innovation.
“Achieving PHAB accreditation is a proud moment for the White Earth Nation. It reflects our commitment to accountability, continuous improvement, and honoring our responsibility to care for our relatives. Our community can trust that we are providing strong, culturally rooted Tribal public health services today and for future generations,” said Lindsi Darco, Health Director, White Earth Health Division.
The accreditation process required extensive documentation, performance measurement, and demonstration of foundational public health capabilities aligned with national standards.
“This recognition reflects years of systems development, quality improvement, and collaboration. It represents the shared dedication of our Tribal Public Health team, Tribal leadership, and community partners, who worked with care and commitment to ensure our policies, performance measures, and partnerships meet national standards while remaining firmly grounded in our Anishinaabe culture, values, and responsibility to our people,” said Cyndy Rastedt, Tribal Public Health Coordinator and Accreditation Coordinator.
The national accreditation program, which receives support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sets standards against which governmental public health departments continuously improve the quality of their services and performance. Standards emphasize Foundational Capabilities and align with the 10 Essential Public Health Services. More than 80 percent of the U.S. population is now served by a health department that has undergone PHAB’s rigorous, multi-faceted, peer-reviewed assessment process to ensure it meets a set of quality standards and measures.
“National accreditation through PHAB has benefits that extend far beyond the health department itself,” said PHAB President and CEO Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP. “The accreditation process helps health departments identify key areas for improvement, ensuring they provide the highest level of service to their communities. With this accomplishment, communities served by accredited health departments can trust that their department is strong, capable, and committed to protecting and promoting public health.”
Often called the backbone of the public health system, public health departments are on the front lines of communities’ efforts to protect and promote health and prevent disease and injury. White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health promotes healthy behaviors and works to prevent disease and injury across the lifespan. The department advances chronic disease prevention, supports family and child wellness, strengthens immunization and communicable disease response, expands access to health and Indigenous foods, and connects community members to vital health and social services — all grounded in the values and priorities of the White Earth Nation.
Serving the White Earth Nation and its community members, the Tribal Public Health Department works collaboratively with Tribal leadership, Elders, families, and Tribal and community partners to improve health outcomes, strengthen cultural protective factors, and build a healthier future for the next seven generations.
About White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health
The mission of White Earth Nation Tribal Public Health is to promote wiikwazom—wellness, prevent gibichichige—disease, and protect ganawendan—health in a way that honors our Anishinaabe culture. We work to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people of the White Earth Nation through culturally grounded public health practice, prevention, education, and partnership. Learn more at http://www.wen-tribalpublichealth.com.
For more information, please contact Cyndy Rastedt, Tribal Public Health Coordinator, at Cyndy.Rastedt@whiteearth-nsn.gov.
About the Public Health Accreditation Board
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) was created to serve as the national public health accrediting body and is jointly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Vital Records/Health Statistics accreditation is funded, in part, by the National Center for Health Statistics. The development of national public health department accreditation has involved and is supported by public health leaders and practitioners from the national, state, local, Tribal, and territorial levels. For more information, contact PHAB Communications at communications@phaboard.org or visit www.phaboard.org.
