HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
August 30, 2023
NACCHO News and Announcements
Visit NACCHO at the United States Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA)
September 6- September 9
Come check out NACCHO’s booth at USCHA and tell us how local health departments can be partners in the fight to end HIV.
NACCHO will give attendees the opportunity to answer the question “What can LHDs do to better serve Black women?” All responses will be added to a “gallery wall” showing all of the best strategies to increase engagement with and improve health outcomes amongst Black women.
Stop by NACCHO’s booth to learn more!
Are you interested in working directly with your community members to create a community-informed and tailored plan that addresses syphilis? The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) to provide a funding opportunity for local health departments that supports that type of approach. Through this funding opportunity, up to 5 health departments (not already apart of cohort 1) will receive funding to implement a community engagement process that contributes to a plan aimed at addressing the syphilis burden in their communities. Prospective applicants can find the details of the RFA here and the deadline to submit applications is September 29, 2023. Applications should be submitted via email to [email protected].
If applicants have additional questions, feel free to reach out to Daisha Washington, STI Program Analyst, at [email protected].
Please complete our DIS Survey: Impact of DIS Funding Rescission on Local Health Departments
In recent weeks, local jurisdictions heard from CDC and/or state health departments that the Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) Workforce Development Funding will end December 31, 2023, two years earlier than anticipated. These COVID-STD funds, which were part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, were rescinded as part of the debt ceiling negotiations. These funds were originally planned to support years 4 and 5 of an investment in DIS at the state and local level.
Through this survey, NACCHO would like to gather information on the impact of the recission of the $400 million for DIS activities on disease intervention specialists (DIS) at local health departments. Specifically, NACCHO is interested in understanding how the law has impacted people with, or at risk for, STIs, the DIS workforce, and overall health department program planning and implementation. We appreciate your time and consideration with providing this information.
A Quick “How-To” Guide for Understanding Opioid Settlements State-to-State
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) partnered with Community Education Group (CEG) on a 3-part webinar series on Opioid Settlements across the country and how LHDs and their community partners can, and are, leveraging funds to support evidence-based syndemic strategies to reduce harms associated with opioid use. Synthesizing what was shared and learned during these webinars and office hours, this ‘Quick How-To Guide’ was developed. It serves as a starting point for LHDs and their partners to understand these complex settlements and support evidence-based, harm reduction centered approaches to the spending of settlement dollars.
HIV, STI, & Hepatitis Resources and News
Effective Public Health Approaches to Reducing Congenital Syphilis
As rates of congenital syphilis continue to climb, ASTHO’s subject matter experts created a Congenital Syphilis Technical Package for state and territorial policymakers looking to make a difference.
This summary of interventions focuses on policy-level actions to increase access to patient care and identify syphilis among people who are pregnant. From universal screenings to leveraging Medicaid funds, our recommendations offer insights into how jurisdictions can incentivize providers and collaborate across agencies.
Read more from ASTHO’s emerging infectious disease team here.
NNDITC: New Training Sessions Launched
The National Network of Disease Intervention Training Centers (NNDITC) are offering free interactive, skill-building trainings for the disease intervention community. NNDITC will now be offering courses on Motivational Interviewing and Demystifying Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity starting this October!
Learn more & register for upcoming courses here: https://nnditc.org/training/learning-collaboratives/.
Final Recommendation Statement: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Acquisition of HIV
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released today a final recommendation statement on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent acquisition of HIV. Healthcare professionals should prescribe PrEP to people at increased risk for HIV. The Task Force has also developed a clinical discussion guide as part of its Let’s Talk About It series to support conversations between clinicians and their patients about whether PrEP may be right for them. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, a summary for clinicians, and the clinical discussion guide, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the August 22 online issue of JAMA.
News to Note
Syphilis Drug Shortage, Maternal and Child Health Priorities- ASTHO
Upcoming Opportunities
Beyond Engagement: Bringing the Power of Young People to PrEP Research and Programs
September 78 AM ET In this webinar, we will hear from young women at the forefront of HIV prevention research, advocacy, and programs in East and Southern Africa and the United States. Representatives from MOSAIC’s NextGen Squad and the Chicago-based PrEP4Teens project will describe how they are contributing to PrEP projects in their communities and share promising practices for harnessing the power of young people to shape HIV prevention efforts intended for them.
Register Here.
