Helping You to Support Your Communities
Last Updated: May 25, 2022
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) has prepared several resources to assist State Health Department Chronic Disease Units and other public health professionals as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Chronic Disease Units are uniquely expert in their understanding of the chronic disease burden in their communities, and already many of them are making important contributions to the COVID-19 response. As COVID-19 continues to impact the United States in unprecedented ways, we applaud our State and Territorial Health Departments for their commitment and dedication to protecting public health and safety.” John W. Robitscher, MPH, CEO of NACDD. Read the rest of his statement applauding Chronic Disease Units for their work during COVID-19.
Guidance for Chronic Disease Directors
- Read the 2021 White Paper: The Connection between COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes: Underscoring the Need for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
- Visit and share NACDD’s website, YourHealthBeyondCOVID to find tips about chronic disease prevention and management during the pandemic.
- Distribute NACDD’s fact sheet for general audiences, “Chronic Disease and COVID-19: What You Need to Know” (published April 2). En español.
- Learn about COVID-19, chronic disease, and health equity in NACDD’s white paper.
- Review NACDD’s slides on “Diabetes and COVID 2022” that helps state partners plan their value proposition for Medicaid coverage of the National Diabetes Prevention Program.
- Search for resources state, territorial, tribal, and local health departments have created on COVID-19.
- Check out CDC’s One-Stop Shop Toolkit for COVID-19 Resources for communications tools and materials.
- Share American Medical Association COVID-19 fact sheets on when, how, and where to seek care, supported in 35 languages.
- View ASTHO’s Dec. 2 COVID-19 Daily Brief covering updates and resources on the COVID-19 vaccines.
- Review a resource slide from RADM Dr. Betsy Thompson’s General Member Webinar for to help address challenges people with Chronic Disease are facing in the new COVID-19 environment. A recording of the webinar is not available.
- Learn about CDC’s guidance on factors to consider when planning to purchase respirators from another country.
- Read the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (March 31) covering the preliminary prevalence of severe COVID-19-associated disease among people with underlying health conditions.
- Read about CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion guidance to Chronic Disease Directors (March 26, 2020).
- Read information for CDC applicants and recipients of CDC funding.
- Watch a webinar for Chronic Disease Directors given by the At-Risk Task Force (PowerPoint slides).
- Read CDC’s current clinical guidance on managing high-risk populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Dental Directors can review CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Dental Settings During the COVID-19 Response.
- The Clinical Call Center for COVID-19 (for healthcare providers and health department/laboratory staff only): 770-488-7100 (available 24/7).
- Clinicians are asked not to refer patients to CDC to get tested for COVID-19 or to get test results.
- The CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity COVID-19 response has additional information and is hosting regular calls to update providers.
- CDC’s general COVID-19 website has a symptom checker for people who are ill and have questions as well as other information.
Learn About “Long COVID” or “Post COVID”
- View a list of resources on so-called “long COVID” or “Post COVID.”
Support Chronic Disease Populations
- View a map of vaccine hesitancy and other vaccine hesitancy communications resources from the COVID-19 Community Corps.
- Review the Trust for America’s Health report, “Building Trust in and Access to a COVID-19 Vaccine Within Communities of Color and Tribal Nations”
- Read the “Surviving and Thriving: A COVID-19 Survival Guide for Black Women and Their Families” produced by the Black Women’s Health Imperative.
- Explore NACDD’s COVID Resilience Dashboard. The COVID Resilience Dashboard provides critical health insights into the lives of Americans with chronic diseases. The data is gathered through nationally representative surveys on the Gallup Panel, with new results released quarterly. More than 30 indicators spanning wellbeing, health management, and access to healthcare help you understand the populations you are working hardest to serve. Multiple viewing tools provide flexible options for exploring national, state-level, and demographic trends.
- Review NACDD’s policy statement on COVID-19 and vaccine prioritization.
- Download the CDC’s COVID-19 One-Stop Shop Toolkit for various audiences with videos, social media, PSAs, print resources, and other communications resources. Consider using syndicated content (e.g. microsite, self-checker, individual pages) on your websites.
- Read CDC’s Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups guidance.
- Review newly developed materials the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities have created regarding the COVID-19 vaccine for people with developmental disabilities — a video explaining the vaccine and a plain language document.
- Check out CDC’s COVID-19 Integrated County View.
- Review NACDD’s new white paper on the “Impact of the Changing Public Health Environment on State Cancer Programs: COVID-19 and the Implications for Cancer Screening.”
- Use the COVID-19 Resources List for vulnerable populations that NACDD and the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health have prepared.
- Review the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) crowd-sourcing project to collect Asian American and Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander in-language COVID-19 resources. Submit a resource by filling out their form.
- Download the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Health Equity Principles for State and Local Leaders in Responding to, Reopening, and Recovering from COVID-19.”
- Check out the New York State Department of Health’s “Masks and Face Coverings for COVID-19.”
- Download the Hispanic Communications Network’s white paper “U.S. Hispanics and COVID-19: Spanish-Language Outreach and Crisis Communications.”
- Read CDC’s guidance on COVID-19 for people with liver disease.
- Visualize “State’s Reporting of COVID-19 Health Equity Data,” from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
- Review the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Overview of COVID-19 and Resources to Find Low-Cost Healthcare or Get Health Insurance.”
- Share CDC’s “Staying Well While Staying at Home: A Guide for Patients, Caregivers, and Family.”
- Review information for rural areas on responding to COVID-19 from the Rural Health Information Hub. Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases at the CDC, gave a webinar to share guidance on this topic (YouTube).
- Provide information and a checklist to community and faith leaders on responding to COVID-19 from the CDC.
- Prepare for a chronic disease population’s needs during a public health crisis by reviewing a special edition of our diabetes prevention newsletter, The Connector.
- Use waivers to help with your state’s COVID-19 response, by reading an article from the National Academy for State Health Policy.
- Share tip sheets and other educational resources from national organizations representing populations most at risk (via the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease):
- Understand the needs of caregivers when managing the COVID-19 response through this article by the National Academy for State Health Policy.
- Plan for palliative care if needed for those affected by the virus.
- Help disseminate the National Center on Health, Physical Activity & Disability’s curated playlist of its top exercise from home videos for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. (They also offer a dissemination toolkit and a shareable graphic.)
Leverage State Policy Tools
- Check out the latest Pulse Survey of Chronic Disease Directors and how the COVID-19 response is impacting their units.
- Review State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus from the Kaiser Family Foundation to learn about cases and deaths; adopted social distancing measures; health policy actions to reduce barriers to COVID-19 testing and treatment; and additional state-level data related to COVID-19, including testing and provider capacity.
- Visit the State Fiscal Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19) page at the National Conference of State Legislatures for information on state budget legislation to prepare and respond to the coronavirus through supplemental appropriations, rainy day fund transfers, and economic measures.
- View resources on State Action on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the National Conference of State Legislatures, including updates on state legislation to support state action related to COVID-19.
- Identify State Quarantine and Isolation Statutes as gathered by the National Conference of State Legislatures. The page summarizes state law authority for quarantine and isolation within state borders.
- Review What Steps Have States Taken to Address Coronavirus? from the National Governors Association. This includes information on state actions around National Guard activations, state employee travel restrictions, and other key actions and resources that may inform other states and territories as they prepare for and respond to the coronavirus.
- Browse the COVID-19 Related State Actions on Telehealth collection from the Center for Connected Health Policy to find state actions to remove policy barriers to telehealth utilization to address the pandemic.
- Read the article How States are Responding to Coronavirus, in 7 Maps from Politico that provides maps that provides maps of state actions including paid leave and state-mandated school closures.
- Find policy options for states to address COVID-19 as proposed by the American Medical Association.
- Learn about Health Insurance Providers Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the AHIP, including how health insurance providers are taking action at the corporate and state level, including removing cost-sharing for testing, waiving prior authorization requirements, providing telehealth without cost sharing, and allowing early access to prescription refills.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a third set of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQs) to aid state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their response to the 2019-Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Promote and Protect Social Justice
- Watch NACDD’s 2021 Program Success Showcase video “How State Health Departments Can Help Build Trust in Public Health and Promote Health Equity during COVID and Beyond.”
- Watch the Brookings Institute webinar, “The Effects of the Coronavirus Outbreak on Marginalized Communities.”
- Read the Black Women’s Health Initiative’s “COVID-19 Resources and Outreach Efforts.”
- Download the King County, WA Anti-Stigma Social Media Toolkit.
- Read the Health Affairs article, “Health Justice Strategies To Combat COVID-19: Protecting Vulnerable Communities During A Pandemic” (login may be required for the full text).
- Check out the Public Health Institute’s resource blog, which includes working guidance on addressing discrimination and racism during COVID-19.
- Review HHS Office of Minority Health’s resource center for minority health literature, research and referrals for consumers, community organizations and health professionals.
Work Remotely Efficiently and Effectively
- Watch NACDD’s 2021 Program Success Showcase video “Mental Health and Combating Burnout for Public Health Staff During COVID-19 and Other National Emergencies.”
- View HHS’s COVID-19 Workforce Virtual Toolkit: Resources for Healthcare Decision-Makers Responding to COVID-19 Workforce Concerns.
- Learn how to:
- “Lead Virtual Meetings,” via our professional development module, which will help you gain the confidence and competence to facilitate virtual meetings that both provide meeting attendees a positive experience and achieve your results.
- “Make Virtual Work, ‘Work’” via our professional development module, which includes tips for managers and staff on how to maintain morale, increase communication, and enhance virtual work.
- Need help getting started with your own team’s remote work policies? View NACDD’s Telecommute Policy to help inform your own plans and processes.
- Communicate effectively during a crisis by listening to a podcast case study from New Hampshire about how they handled a cluster of pediatric cancer cases.
- View two short videos to help you work more efficiently and effectively at home:
- Hold virtual meetings that are effective and mindful.
Forge Strong Partnerships for an Effective Response
- Work with CBS HealthWatch® to create custom messages about COVID-19 using CBS’ national health correspondents (this is a special opportunity for State Health Departments that was negotiated by NACDD).
- Watch the NACDD/DOD webinar, “How Public Health and the Department of Defense Can Work Together to Improve Our Nation’s Health and Security.”
- Listen to an NACDD podcast about the CDC Foundation, featuring Dr. Judy Monroe, CDC Foundation President and CEO.
- Follow updates from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion about COVID-19.
- Check out Community Commons’ online library of peer-to-peer resource sharing.
Find Out How NACDD Can Help You
- Are you interested in learning how NACDD can help your State or Territorial Health Department during this crisis? Read more about our services or contact us.
- You also can learn about our partner, the ProVention Health Foundation.20