Monday, September 16, 2024
9/16/2024
CAI’s STOP STDs Project Component C- TA & Capacity Building and Component D-Special Projects Cicatelli Associates, Inc. (CAI) 505 Eighth Avenue Suite 1900 New York, NY 10018-6506 Project Director Rodney Washington, (212) 594-7741, RWashington@CAIGlobal.org website:caiglobal.org; requesting $250,000 for Component C and $250,000 for Component D Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) play a key role in national efforts to prevent and control sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Drawing from its extensive experience in training DIS workers and supporting the effectiveness of the DIS program, CAI proposes to pursue strategic, evidence-based, and results-driven approaches to implement Components C and D. The acute stage of COVID-19 having passed, CAI, under Component C, proposes to seize the moment for an intensive, time-limited assessment to understand the knowledge of STD program staff, and their competency gaps. Utilizing a learning community framework, the proposed project offers opportunities for DIS to share their perspectives and expertise on a range of topics of national significance. CAI also proposes a demonstration project under Component D that would initiate and sustain authentic engagement with communities in 4 regions with rising rates of STDs, HIV and substance use disorders, to identify unmet need and the social drivers of health disparities among focus populations. Component C: CAI will recruit 20-30 DIS representatives to participate in a learning community active throughout the entire project period. Recruitment will focus on “red flag” areas across the US and will require commitment of leadership of CDC, at the jurisdictional level and individual commitment of the DIS representatives to the learning community. Addressing a minimum of five priority topics for the STD workforce during the project period, the learning community will focus on increasing knowledge of policy guidelines and training curriculum in Year One and in Year Two we will pivot to a focus on increasing the understanding of program challenges and successes amongst the STD work force. CAI will work with CDC to design the content and format of a learning hub for peer to peer sharing among the broader DIS workforce and promote broader learning by regularly posting effective training curricula identified by the learning community. Component D: CAI aims to build capacity of the STD workforce for rapid, strategic, people-centered pivots to address emerging and under-prioritized issues. CAI will do this in two ways. First, we will work with CDC to enhance the capability for rapid communications on public health messaging through multiple channels and in partnership with other national organizations. Second, we will provide training, technical assistance and tools to enable the STD workforce and the local community of four geographic areas with high burden of STDs, HIV and SUD to ground their prevention and control efforts in Authentic Community Engagement, leveraging communities as essential partners in STD and outbreak response efforts. Clear, relevant, and respectful communication is central to community engagement and, more broadly, to an effective response (at national, state, and local levels) to emerging issues. An Advisory Group of national partners will meet twice annually to strengthen efforts to address emerging and/or under-prioritized issues, including but not limited to the social determinants of health that drive STD transmission and syndemics of co-occurring diseases as well as changes in the policy environment that affect STD risk, vulnerability and response.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
