We had a robust Board of Directors meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas last month, which included setting the Association’s strategic priorities for 2024-2025 based on our current Strategic Map, which outlines the Association’s focus areas and goals through 2027. As you may recall, in 2022 we updated our Strategic Map to reflect the Association’s commitment to racial equity, health equity, and social justice.
Across the organization, we aim to align our work with the goals and objectives identified. Here are the updated Board priorities in categories C-F:
Lead in Policy and Advocacy
The Board reaffirmed commitment to advocating for policies that advance chronic disease prevention and health promotion in states and territories. As five of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. are, or are strongly associated with, preventable and treatable chronic diseases, It remains critical to advocate for the programs, resources, and funding needed at the federal, state, and local levels.
NACDD’s Center for Health Policy (CHP), in partnership with Cornerstone Government Affairs and NACDD’s Government Affairs Forum, educates and engages our representatives and policymakers to steer coordinated legislative goals that improve resources available for chronic disease prevention and control and health promotion efforts.
We remain committed providing our Members with tools to keep up with policy issues, track bills, and follow legislative efforts. (Check out our online course “Working With Elected Officials” and our webinar that discusses the role of Chronic Disease Directors and staff in strategically disseminating research to policymakers and the media as a way to advocate for public health.)
- Keep up with the latest legislative news by signing up for our weekly Legislative and Policy News email.
Be a Catalyst to Grow State/Territorial Capacity to Address Systemic & Upstream Factors
This year, the Board will focus on ways to use data to connect social inequities to chronic disease outcomes. Focusing on the changing the “upstream” factors that contribute to chronic diseases—working toward prevention—means better outcomes and lower health care expenses. NACDD’s Center for Justice in Public Health (CJPH) and its Center for Advancing Healthy Communities (CAHC) both strive to foster healthy communities for all by advancing health equity and eliminating social barriers to health, with programs focusing in the areas of food and nutrition security, physical activity and built environment, tobacco cessation, obesity, social connectedness, chronic disease-related mental health, and equity/social justice. I encourage you to read CAHC’s report Leveraging Evidence-based Practices to Design Systems and Communities that Promote Healthy Weight and to learn how you can get involved with our efforts to support the Biden-Harris Administration National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. I also invite you to register for our upcoming General Member Webinar Examining Strategies and Programs to End Summer Hunger.
- Read NACDD’s Social Justice Framework, which includes a section on Reflexivity and Data Processes
Accelerate Workforce Development in States/Territories
This year’s Board President’s Challenge aligns with the new priority to support resilience and change management efforts for the existing public health workforce.
A robust and resilient public health workforce is crucial for establishing a solid public health infrastructure and addressing the health needs of our nation. Employees who are engaged and healthy are more productive and dedicated to the organization’s mission. I encourage you to learn more and view our President’s Challenge webinar series about the challenge, as well as check out the learning hub for the latest professional development opportunities offered through the Center for Public Health Leadership.
Advance a Strong, Diversified Portfolio
And finally, the Board voted to focus on developing programs that address emerging chronic disease and health promotion issues as we strive to continue to diversify our portfolio of work. This aligns with the mission of our Center for Partnerships & Innovation, which aims to go beyond the conventional ways of addressing population health and wellness, to find new and innovative solutions by tapping into traditional and non-traditional partnerships and forging new alliances. If you are interested in partnering with NACDD, please contact John Patton VP, Center for Partnerships & Innovation.
Learn more about our current projects and programs at www.chronicdisease.org.