The Diabetes Council includes more than 250 Members from across the country and supports State Health Departments in implementing diabetes prevention and control strategies funded by the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. All State Health Department staff and contractors are automatically Members of the Diabetes Council. Members who become actively involved benefit from networking, trainings, resources, and other opportunities. Please contact Susan Lopez-Payan if you are not receiving information or would like to find out more about the Diabetes Council workgroups.

 

Diabetes Council Achievements

The Leadership Group, an elected body of representatives from State Health Departments, leads the Diabetes Council. The Leadership Group acts as a collective voice for change, inspiring strategic direction for diabetes prevention and control, advocating for State Health Departments, and connecting colleagues across the country.

Under the leadership of past chair Christopher Lucero (New Mexico), the Diabetes Council’s Leadership Group accomplished the following from July 2017 – June 2018:

• Prepared comments for two federal policy items open for public comment. NACDD submitted the comments on behalf of the Diabetes Council to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and to the CDC, respectively on the:
  • CMS CY 2018 Physician Fee Schedule, published July 21, 2017; comments addressed the Medicare National Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) portion of the proposed rule.
  • Draft 2018 CDC Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program (DPRP) Standards and Operating Procedures.
• Provided feedback to CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation on the plans for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) Customer Service Center.
• Engaged in a question/answer session on the Medicare roll-out of National DPP with CMS staff, who found it helpful to hear the perspective of State Health Departments and what they are hearing from potential suppliers.
• Conducted outreach calls to staff in states not represented on the Leadership Group to build relationships and learn about their successes and challenges to help ensure the Leadership Group is representing all states.

 

Congratulations to New Leaders Elected for Diabetes Council

The results are in! The list below includes existing members of the Diabetes Council’s Leadership Group and recently filled positions (italics):

• Becky DiOrio (Colorado), Chair
• Shana Scott (Georgia), Chair Elect
• Christopher Lucero (New Mexico), Past Chair
• Kayla Craddock (Virginia), Professional Development Workgroup Co-Chair
• Brittany Ly (Utah), Professional Development Workgroup Co-Chair
• Allison Smith (Georgia), Mentoring Workgroup Co-Chair
• LorieAnn Wilkerson-Leconte (New Jersey), Mentoring Workgroup Co-Chair
• Max Alderman (Massachusetts), Liaison to the NACDD Learning and Professional Development Committee
• Kate Andrus (Louisiana), Liaison to the NACDD Government Affairs Forum and Diabetes Advocacy Alliance
• Masako Horino Berger (Nevada), Act on Data Liaison to the NACDD Epidemiology/Evaluation Forum
• Judith Gabriele (New Mexico), Liaison to the NACDD Board
• Sara Eve Sarliker (Washington), Liaison to Cardiovascular Health Network
• Blythe Nett (Hawaii), Liaison to Health Equity Council
• Pam Geis (Wisconsin), Liaison to School Health

Special thanks go to the following dedicated leaders who fulfilled their terms:

• Susie King (Indiana), Mentoring Workgroup Co-Chair
• Cassandra Dove (Mississippi), Liaison to School Health

 

Webinar: Looking back on 1305/1422 and ahead for 1815/1817

The Diabetes Council’s Professional Development Workgroup hosted a webinar on Sept. 25, that looked back on lessons learned during the 1305/1422 CDC-funded period and prepared State Health Departments to implement new or continued efforts on Oct. 1, when the new funding cycle for CDC’s 1815/1817 cooperative agreements begins. Six states shared insights on specific topic areas.

 

Guides Needed to Mentor New Staff

The Diabetes Council’s Mentoring Workgroup is seeking guides to provide support, encouragement, and orientation to new State Health Department staff working in diabetes or cardiovascular health. For more information contact Tiffany Pertillar.

 

“Serving as a guide is an extremely rewarding experience, meeting new colleagues from across the nation is rewarding, serving as a guide is not a stressful role requiring demanding hours rather, you set your own pace that best suits you and your group. In the past, I’ve operated my guide/learner groups similar to a learning circle set up around topics that interest the small group and, most rewarding of all, I found I learned a great deal from my group members, making it a worthwhile time investment!”