Advancing Conformance With The Vnrfrps in Indiana

Indiana State Department of Health RFA-FD-12-01PI: Scott Gilliam Advancing Conformance with VNRFRPSProject Summary/AbstractThis funding opportunity will allow Indiana to contribute to a nationally integrated food safetysystem by attaining full conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food RegulatoryProgram Standards (VNRFRPS) over the next five years at the state level and assist localhealth departments in Indiana with enrollment and implementation of the VNRFRPS. Marketingefforts will focus on creating a culture where retail standards are identified as a priority bypromoting their public health significance. The ISDH FPP will contribute to the upcoming 2013Public Health Accreditation Application to ensure the Center for Disease Control andPrevention's 10 Essential Services are being met by the agency. Conformance with VNRFPRSwill align with the ISDH mission to promote and provide essential public health services toprotect Indiana communities in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of public health servicesand is considered as equivalent to this accreditation by the Public health Accreditation board.Solutions to the nine VNRFRPS Standards will be carefully evaluated for duplicability and asefficient and innovative models for other retail regulatory bodies both at the local and nationallevel. Conformance with these program standards will help Indiana contribute to Federal andother State Programs to better direct regulatory activities at reducing foodborne illness hazardsin retail facilities. Compliance with the standards translates to greater capability to respond viaestablished relationships with other partners with the food industry, academia, and epidemiologygroups. The Standards require the goals and objectives to be date driven, so the electronicCodePal data collection and inspection management system will be expanded.1