The National Coalition of STD Directors

NCSD’s work includes providing capacity building assistance to state and local STD programs. This includes training tools and workshops, webinars and a networking space for front-line STI professionals.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Harvey’s agency needed its Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) to help with contact tracing. But CDC’s funding restrictions denied them the flexibility they sought.

CAPTC-UCSF DITC

As a program embedded within both a local health department and safety-net healthcare system, the CAPTC has deep experience in culturally responsive STD/HIV prevention and care training and capacity building and in developing community partnerships for STI/STD/HIV education, HIV and viral suppression and STI testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAPTC expanded its scope to support CDC’s rapid response efforts. In particular, the CAPTC has developed and shared resources designed to support the critical work of Case Investigators/Contact Tracers to assist with COVID-19 mitigation efforts including standardized national skills-based trainings, decision-making tools, job aids and communications tools. The CAPTC also provides individualized capacity-building assistance through trainings, workshops and learning collaboratives. CAPTC staff have over 70 years of collective experience as front-line STD/HIV disease intervention specialists.

CAPTC-UCSF STD/HIV Program

CAPTC offers training courses for medical, health promotion and community professionals serving people and communities impacted by STDs. Participants include clinical care providers, prevention experts, counselors, program planners, educators and administrators. Small group discussions, interactive exercises, case studies and hands-on clinic practice enrich the applied learning experiences. Courses are open to audiences within federal Health and Human Services Region IX.

NCSD has called on Congress to increase funding for CDC’s STD Division to help reestablish the public health workforce, including disease investigation specialists and other STI program staff. These frontline workers are needed to conduct contact tracing, the most critical element of a comprehensive STI control strategy.

CAPTC’s HIV/STI program is committed to the dissemination and evaluation of evidence-based practices and providing education to all stakeholders. This includes developing and distributing health educational materials such as brochures on Bacterial Vaginosis; Chlamydia; Genital Warts (HPV); Gonorrhea; and Trichomoniasis, which can be ordered here. In addition, the STI and AIDS Prevention Team is involved in research on innovative approaches to improving health-related outcomes for sexually transmitted infections.

CAPTC-UCSF STD/HIV Training Program

The National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) represents health department STD program directors and their support staff from programs in all states, seven large cities/counties and eight US territories that are directly funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCSD works to ensure effective policies, strategies, sufficient resources and public awareness to help end the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases.

During the pandemic, many communities were forced to reroute funding structures that normally fund local STI programs. This has the potential to restrict access for certain demographics. Additionally, privacy concerns around private insurance may limit billing mechanisms for STI testing and treatment.

On this episode of Coming Together for Sexual Health, Dr. Ina Park discusses monkeypox: what it is, what’s the hype and how worried she is about its spread. Turn on notifications to never miss an episode and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. You can also get creative assets and a communications toolkit to use in your community.

CAPTC-UCSF STD/HIV Education Program

The CAPTC-UCSF STD/HIV Program operates two categorical STD clinics and provides outreach testing for syphilis, gonorrhea, and other STDs in areas of high morbidity. The program also offers HIV counseling and referral services. The program’s goal is to improve treatment rates for STIs and to reduce the incidence of congenital syphilis.

The CA PTC provides training courses that meet the needs of a variety of medical, health promotion and community professionals who serve persons and communities impacted by STDs and HIV. These professionals include clinical care providers, health educators, counselors, and program planners. Trainings use small group discussions, interactive exercises, case studies and a variety of visual media to enhance applied learning experiences.

CAPTC-UCSF’s Pacific AETC-Bay Area, North & Central Coast (Pacific BANCC) is an HIV prevention training center funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Pacific AETC serves healthcare providers from San Luis Obispo to Oregon. Its program staff has more than 70 years of combined working experience in front-line STD/HIV DIS and as DIS supervisors.

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