Environmental Health Food and Lodging Progression and Review of Program Standards

Project Abstract: Cumberland County Environmental Health Food and Lodging section enrolled in the FDAVoluntary Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards on September 8, 2014. Upon enrollment, aProgram Standards team was assembled at the Cumberland County Department of Public HealthEnvironmental Health Division and consists of the Environmental Health Division Director and twoEnvironmental Health Food & Lodging Program Specialists. The initial Self-Assessment process will becompleted August 2015. The funding will be used to support our efforts and to fund an Administrative Assistant I positionwho will serve as the Program Standards Coordinator. This role is very important as it will provide thesupportive foundation to lead the team in the direction of standardization as we identify current status,next steps, and time frames for completion of the 9 standards. In order to implement the ProgramStandards in the intended manner, the county must dedicate the extensive time, resources, and staffnecessary to meet each standard's requirements. Due to the overwhelming number of not only statemandated inspections, but also county specific inspection requirements, the feasibility of accomplishingadvancement in the VNRFRPS is unobtainable. Cumberland County Environmental Health would requireadditional staff whose sole responsibility is to lead the overall project's implementation to meet thefollowing program needs: 1. Identify program areas where an agency can have the greatest impact on retail food safety. 2. Promote wider application of effective risk-factor intervention strategies. 3. Assist in identifying program areas most in need of additional attention. 4. Provide information needed to justify maintenance or increase in program budgets. 5. Lead to innovations in program implementation and administration. 6. Improve industry and consumer confidence in food protection programs by enhancing uniformity within and between regulatory agencies. In addition to utilizing grant funding to provide the necessary staff to achieve greater conformitywith the Program Standards, the county will require funds for specialized training of EH staff, outreachactivities, and deliverables to consumers and industry. Without this grant funding, the County is not ableto dedicate staff and additional resources to continue participation with this Voluntary Program.