Director's Update

March - April 2012

Dr. Kevin Fenton
Director, NCHHSTP

In January 2012, NCHHSTP officially welcomed the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) to the Center. As part of the Center, the Division’s activities will focus on educating young people about the risk of HIV and other STDs. Many of DASH’s responsibilities are critical to understanding the health risk behaviors of this population and developing programs that address a more holistic approach to prevention. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey monitors health risk behaviors among young people. Other surveys are in place to assess school health policies and practices so that health and education agencies can more effectively tailor and improve programs. As well, funding and assistance are provided to education and health agencies and national organizations to plan, implement, and evaluate effective school health policies and practices.

We are thrilled to welcome DASH. We are committed to building our portfolio of work in this area, starting with the President’s budget for 2013, which aims to restore the $10 million funding cut received in 2012. Today’s youth need more information to support healthy behaviors that protect their health now and throughout their lives.

World TB Day

Each year, on March 24th, World TB Day commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis—the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). On this day, we raise awareness about TB-related problems and solutions, and support TB-control efforts worldwide. This year, CDC joins the global Stop TB partnership in adopting the slogan, “Stop TB in my lifetime,” which parallels the theme of a world free of TB. The slogan and theme encourage people globally to make an individual call for the elimination of TB and say what changes they expect to see in their lifetimes in TB illness and death. In an effort to educate and raise awareness, a variety of online resources are available in English and Spanish to assist partners in developing their own messages and materials.

Testing Makes Us Stronger Campaign

Testing Makes Us Stronger (TMUS) is part of CDC’s Act Against AIDS campaign and encourages black gay and bisexual men to get tested for HIV. In February, TMUS was launched in Atlanta and New York City to great enthusiasm. This initiative, developed in collaboration with community experts, is designed to help reverse the disproportionate impact of this disease. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 22 percent of all new HIV infections in the United States each year. TMUS builds on the strengths of African- American MSM, and its messages emphasize that HIV testing is a source of strength, not a reason for fear. TMUS was developed after extensive research and its communication strategies include the launch of a national Web site and Facebook page, ad placement in national print and online publications, and outreach through Twitter and various blogs. Please visit the Web site for more information on the campaign, planned events, and facts about HIV.

New from CDC

NCHHSTP Atlas

NCHHSTP Web site Redesign

Partner Services Providers Quick Guide

Act Against AIDS Year-End Report

Upcoming Events

On the Web

Public Health Reports – Call for Papers