Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) has received national recognition with two 2026 Model Practice Awards from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), according to a July 27, 2026, news release.
The awards honor local public health programs that demonstrate excellence through best practices. NACCHO recognized 42 local health department programs as Model Practices and 61 as Promising Practices during its NACCHO360 event in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 16, 2026.
PPHD’s Youth Advisory Council, led by Kelsy Sasse, was recognized for empowering youth voices and strengthening partnerships to improve the health and well-being of young people across the Nebraska Panhandle. According to the release, the council was selected as one of the top five awardees nationwide to present on a best practices panel at the conference.
The Maternal Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Initiative, led by Dez Brandt, was also honored. The program is aimed at improving maternal health by increasing access to blood pressure monitoring, education, and early intervention.
Health Director Jessica Davies and Deputy Director of Maternal & Family Health Services Dez Brandt accepted both awards on behalf of Panhandle Public Health District staff, partners, and community members involved in the initiatives, the release states.
According to the release, the awards recognize innovative, community-driven public health practices that create meaningful impact and support PPHD’s mission to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for residents of the Panhandle of Nebraska.
This content is sourced from
Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD)
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
