As we reflect on 2023, I am proud of what NACDD and our partners have accomplished, as we forge ahead in our mission and vision. (See highlights below.)
Thanks to the unwavering commitment and spirit of this incredible team of subject matter experts, staff, and Board members, the Association continues to have incredible growth. The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently recognized NACDD as one of “Atlanta’s 75 Largest Nonprofit Organizations” out of more than a thousand nonprofits in the area. The rankings, determined by 2022 gross revenue, positioned the Association at No. 21 on the Chronicle’s list, alongside prominent national and international organizations such as the American Cancer Society and CARE USA.
Our growth has led to the need for a larger headquarters office, and we are thrilled this month to be relocating to a spacious new setting at 101 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur, Ga. With state-of-the-art facilities, this new space aligns with our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence, and will open the doors to new opportunities.
Our enthusiasm extends to hosting our 8th annual Public Health Programs Success Showcase on Thursday, February 8, where we will bring together NACDD partners, funders, and potential collaborators. As in years past, this event will highlight more than 60 of NACDD’s projects and programs through engaging poster presentations. We’ll share the posters online after the event.
As we embark on this new year, I am heartened to think of all that we will accomplish together in 2024. We look forward to advancing our ongoing projects and making strides in new initiatives, including leading a network to accelerate the decline in commercial tobacco use and reduce the incidence and mortality of tobacco-related cancers by concentrating on prevention and control efforts for people with disabilities, including veterans. (Learn more about a few of our new projects.)
Our commitment remains unwavering to fostering a healthier world by addressing the pervasive challenges and barriers to health equity, and by supporting the important work that you do. In addition, we resolve to continue to advocate for policy changes at the local and national levels, creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Through education, collaboration, innovation, and dedication, together we can make substantial strides in chronic disease prevention and control, paving the way for a healthier and more resilient world for generations to come.
Below are a few highlights and examples of our work in 2023. Visit chronicdisease.org to learn more about our projects or catch up on last year’s news through issues of the Impact Brief, online at chronicdisease.org/impactbrief.
New Member Portal
NACDD launched a new Member Portal, our new hub where you – our Members – can update your Member Profile, manage your NACDD email preferences, and access resources like the Engage Community. View our Member Portal Quick Start Guide to help you login and maximize your Member benefits.
New Centers Launched
NACDD launched The Center for Justice in Public Health (CJPH) in 2023 with the goal of ensuring social justice becomes a cornerstone of public health. CJPH works to raise awareness of health inequities by providing resources and tools, capacity building, training, technical assistance, and sharing opportunities to NACDD Members. The Center also works to advance policy and advocacy in support of equitable chronic disease prevention and control.
The Center for Health Policy was also created to leverage NACDD’s long-running success in advocacy to ensure chronic disease prevention is included in all policies, including sectors like housing, transportation, and social justice. As the only organization representing all state and territorial Chronic Disease Directors and their staff, NACDD is uniquely positioned to be an influential voice in policy discussions about funding state chronic disease programs, investing in primary prevention, and strengthening and expanding evidence-based programs that prevent chronic disease and promote population health.
Social Justice Framework
NACDD released a new, groundbreaking Social Justice Framework, which was created to provide public health practitioners with a blueprint for embedding social justice into the work of chronic disease programs. In collaboration with partners, NACDD developed the Framework to guide the work of the Association alongside State and Territorial Health Departments and Members who seek to advance equity and social justice in public health. Read more →
White House Meeting
In September, NACDD and the White House Office of Public Engagement co-hosted a Thought Leader Discussion: Promoting the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities in Washington, DC. Representatives from public health organizations, State Health Departments, academic institutions, healthcare systems, and the private sector convened to discuss new strategies to support the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (National Strategy). The National Strategy aims to end hunger in America and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, so fewer Americans experience diet-related diseases. Read more →
Pacific Islands Chronic Disease Academy
In March, we held our inaugural Pacific Islands Chronic Disease Academy (PICDA) in Kamuela, Hawaii, with 69 attendees from across the United States Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The event followed the Association’s mainland Chronic Disease Academy commitment to supporting the highest level of effective public health practice.The PICDA was held congruently with the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Collaborative Learning Session. Aimed at diabetes management, the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Collaborative works to navigate the changes needed in community and health systems to promote effective communication between informed, activated patients and a prepared, proactive healthcare team, leading to patient/family-centered services and improved health outcomes.
Million Hearts Health Equity Implementation
NACDD funded six organizations from across the U.S. to effectively implement Million Hearts® strategies among priority populations as part of The Million Hearts® Health Equity Implementation project to reduce health disparities and improve cardiovascular health. Read more →
CVH Podcast
Our CVH team created The Heart of the Matter, a new podcast to highlight best practices and innovation in cardiovascular disease prevention and health promotion.
19 New Teams Added to NACDD’s National Walkability Network
NACDD, with funding support from the CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), will add at least 19 new interdisciplinary teams to its national Walkability Action Institute (WAI) Alumni Network in 2023 with the implementation of four related Active People, Healthy NationTM WAI events. These events include a 10-week national Walkability Virtual Academy (WVA), a four-day WAI in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a hybrid WAI/WVA in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a hybrid WAI/WVA in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Learn more →
Committed to Inclusion Through 1705 Project
NACDD was one of 10 recipients of the six-year CDC cooperative agreement, Scaling the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Underserved Areas (DP17-1705). Our project focus was reaching people with disabilities with an inclusive evidence-based intervention, the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) lifestyle change program (LCP). This project demonstrated the power of relationships as NACDD leveraged national, state, and local partnerships to provide comprehensive technical assistance and support to affiliate sites across five states (AK, FL, IA, NY, and PA). NACDD proudly supported the enrollment of over 1,400 participants with prediabetes into the National DPP LCP. Learn more →
Communication Guide for Dementia Risk Reduction
In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NACDD published a Communication Guide to help public health professionals develop effective communication strategies and leverage existing communication channels to promote the inclusion of brain health messages into chronic disease risk reduction programs. Learn more →