Evaluation of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionʼs Chronic Disease State-Based Epidemiology for Public Health Program Support (STEPPS) Program

Abstract

To identify effective strategies for improving epidemiology capacity in state chronic disease programs, staff epidemiologists and program directors from 25 states were interviewed using a structured questionnaire by phone or in person. Respondents reported three chief barriers to chronic disease epidemiology capacity: lack of institutional commitment and support for chronic disease epidemiology; lack of professional opportunities to engage with peers, colleagues, and scientists; and lack of trained epidemiology staff and resources to support chronic disease functions and activities. Epidemiology capacity in states would be improved by expanding the role and scope of staff placement programs; assisting states in establishing formal collaborations with academic institutions; and providing technical assistance to staff currently employed in states through training, consultation, and networking.

Team Epi-Aid: Graduate Student Assistance with Urgent Public Health Response

“…5 Moreover, a national evaluation of the State-Based Epidemiology for Public Health Program Support program has made recommendations to improve connections with academic institutions and improve technical assistance and consultation as strategies for alleviating insufficient epidemiologic resources at health departments. 7 Creative mechanisms for sharing expertise are necessary to maintain the range of disease prevention and control and surveillance programs within health departments. 8 Experiential learning programs like Team Epi-Aid have proven successful in similar educational settings, particularly in schools of medicine and nursing, both of which have effectively integrated service learning into their curricula.…”