Improving Food Safety Through the Health Education Liaison Program (HELP)

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

1. Abstract of the Program The Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for San Bernardino County residents and visitors by protecting public health, promoting safety and preventing environmental hazards. A primary way this is achieved is through educational outreach associated with food safety and protection. DEHS has implemented a proactive Health Education Liaison Program (HELP) that promotes effective strategies to improve inspection scores, raise food safety standards, and strengthen operator’s managerial control measures to meet long-term compliance objectives. Many food service facilities face reoccurring critical violations increasing the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks and resulting in low scores, which can have a negative financial impact on businesses. Low scoring facilities is referred to HELP by district inspectors. The HELP consultation is performed at no cost to the facility and has assisted participating food facilities in achieving a 10% reduction in critical violations. An example of the effectiveness of this program is represented by a facility that went from a score of 73 (C grade) before the HELP consultation, and increased to a score of 90 (A grade) on their next unannounced routine inspection five months later.