As an individual who is passionate about public health, accessibility, and health equity, there’s been a lot to process in the days since the 2024 election. However, the last few days have also inspired me. I’ve seen so many people ready to work and ready to lift one another up. Ready to give everything they’ve got to make our country a better place. While there is much uncertainty, there are also things we know will never change. Our tenacity, our strength, and our willingness to fight for our democracy and for one another remains.

Please remember that progress isn’t always linear, and we will continue to make progress in public health, even if that progress may take a bit longer to achieve. It’s tough to navigate a future that feels uncertain, but at this moment, I’m confident in the communities we have built and will continue to build. Please stay strong, find strength in your public health colleagues, and reach out to members@chronicdisease.org to let us know how NACDD can support your jurisdiction’s fight against chronic disease.

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and Native American Heritage Month, I’d like to highlight some projects and resources from NACDD and our partners that you might find helpful as you work in these areas.

For over 30 years NACDD has worked in all states and U.S. territories to ensure they have the tools they need to reduce the impact of diabetes in their communities.

Approximately 38 million people—about one in 10 adults—in the United States have diabetes, and one in 5 don’t know they have it. Rates of diabetes-related illness and death have traditionally been higher among some racial and ethnic minority groups and those with lower socioeconomic status. NACDD is actively engaged in initiatives aimed at bridging this gap in diabetes prevention and management.

NACDD recently received new funding via the five-year National Partners Cooperative Agreement from the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC) that included 10 projects dedicated to diabetes prevention and management. Additionally, NACDD is partnering with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in two projects to support diabetes efforts in the U.S. territories and freely associated states.

NACDD’s Diabetes Portfolio is also continuing several innovative projects and partnerships to prevent and manage diabetes including developing and implementing the Bright Spot Initiative, supporting the National Kidney Foundation’s Chronic Kidney Disease Learning Collaborative, and bringing State Health Department diabetes leaders together through the NACDD Diabetes Council. NACDD’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Collaborative has produced a variety diabetes self-management education resources to support people with diabetes in the Pacific Islands communities.

Discover the ways in which NACDD is actively addressing the challenge of diabetes and working towards comprehensive solutions and promoting more equitable care at chronicdisease.org/diabetes.

More than 6.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which disproportionately affects Latinos, Black Americans, and women. We hope to provide meaningful change by ensuring every community has access to resources and data-driven strategies.

Our resources and guidance help public health practitioners promote health, prevent injury, and facilitate social engagement across the life course in their communities. A few of our resources are:

• Integrating Alzheimer’s Messages into Chronic Disease Programs Guide
• Critical issues briefs with in-depth knowledge and insights on aging and brain health across a variety of topics.
• Downloadable rack cards that offer a quick and impactful way to keep communities informed on the importance of regularly integrating healthy activities into their lifestyle.
• A video encouraging the health and well-being of Black adults by sharing healthy lifestyle choices that can reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
• Resources from our partners, including the Alzheimer’s Association and CDC.

And lastly, this Native American Heritage Month we recognize and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous communities. We express our gratitude to the Native American leaders, community members, and partners who work with us to build healthier, more equitable communities for all. Please check out one of our most recent projects, A Guide for Conducting Listening Sessions to Create Tailored Messages About Colorectal Health for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.

Supported by CDC, NACDD and Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) engaged the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board and South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency in an award-winning Listening Sessions project.

Listening Sessions are a modified version of boot camp translation, a validated community-based participatory approach. The partnership brought together American Indian community members to develop culturally and locally relevant colorectal cancer screening messages and materials. 

Throughout the month, check out NACDD’s Facebook and LinkedIn feeds as we highlight some of our work in these important areas.