Connectivity: Local experiences with the FDA Retail Program Standards to achieve success (2h 50 m Learning Lab Tabletop/Group Exercise)

Uniformity within a county or city retail food protection program is a fundamental goal for the environmental manager. The FDA, in order to promote continuous improvements among regulatory programs responsible for retail food protection in the United States, developed the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards). The Retail Program Standards are an ideal tool for an environmental health practitioner to use to assist in defining and administering an effective, health outcome-based food safety program at the local level. Many locals who are enrolled in or are thinking of enrolling in the Retail Program Standards may be intimidated by the daunting tasks the standards present, especially when there exist limited resources.
 

This learning lab will provide participants with a brief overview of the Retail Program Standards, an introduction to the NACCHO Mentorship Program, and highlights from the Mentorship Program on how local health departments can work together to help each other achieve success with these standards. In this interactive learning experience, mentorship participants will be on hand to discuss and share what they have done to implement the performance criteria of the specific standards, develop improvement plans, and complete the self-assessment in preparation for the verification audit. This will be a peer-to-peer learning opportunity for local health departments to share their successes and challenges as they progressed towards meeting each of these standards. Attendees will walk away with resources and information about applying to the mentorship program.