The Vector Control Collaborative Mentorship Program is now in its seventh consecutive year. The following mentors and mentees for the 2024 Cohort received up to $15,000 to build capacity with critical capabilities for a successful vector control and monitoring program.
Here are some of the benefits as a participant:
- Establishing relationships with mentorship partners and other organizations.
- A mosquito resource guide to support their vector control program.
- Technical assistance from NACCHO and CDC.
Since 2018, NACCHO has supported and distributed more than $220,000 in funds to over 38 programs.
Our 2024 Regular Cohort
- Mentor: Jefferson County, Illinois
- Mentee: Ottawa County, Michigan
Ottawa County is a medium-sized county in Michigan with a population of over 275,000 people. They will focus on three capabilities during their mentorship: routine mosquito monitoring through standardized trapping by expanding their program to include Culex mosquitoes, vector control activities to reduce standing water, and conducting educational outreach to their community to inform them about mosquitoes.
Ottawa County is paired up with its mentor, Jefferson County, IL, and they will provide technical assistance in vector control and monitoring. Jefferson County is a small-sized county with a population of over 35,000 people. Despite being a small population, they are using their technical expertise on vector control and monitoring to guide Ottawa during the program.
Hurricane Crisis Cohort
- Mentor: Anastasia Mosquito Control District, Florida
- Mentees: Beaufort County, South Carolina and Pender County, North Carolina
To assist jurisdictions impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, NACCHO was able to launch a special Hurricane Crisis cohort of the VCC in 2024. Beaufort and Pender are counties located on the coastal lines in their respective states where hurricanes are likely to impact them. Both will focus on routine mosquito monitoring through standardized trapping and species identification. The other capabilities they will work on include larviciding and adulticiding, routine mosquito control activities, pesticide resistance testing, and conducting community outreach to their residents. They are currently working with their mentor, Anastasia Mosquito Control District, who hosted both of them at their annual Arboviral Surveillance and Mosquito Workshop in March.
Stay tuned for upcoming stories about these counties’ experiences during the program at www.naccho.org/vector-control. The stories will provide insights into their involvement and how they utilized the grant to adopt best practices and participated in site visits and training opportunities.
