WP 203 Continuing Cross-Sector Partnerships to Improve STD Assessment, Assurance, Policy Development and Prevention Strategies (AAPPS) after the Infertility Prevention Project (IPP) – Opportunities and Challenges

Tuesday, June 10, 2014
International Ballroom
Wendy Nakatsukasa-Ono, MPH1, Beatriz Reyes, BA2, Karen Shiu, MPH2, David Fine, PhD1, Sarah Salomon, MPH1, Erin Edelbrock, BA1, Sandy Rice, M.Ed3, Charles Shumate, MPH, CHES3, Nikki Trevino, CHES3 and Patricia A. Blackburn, MPH2, 1Cardea Services, Seattle, WA, 2Cardea Services, Oakland, CA, 3Cardea Services, Austin, TX

Background: The National IPP created and supported opportunities for cross-sector cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between state and local STD programs, family planning programs, public health laboratories, and other key stakeholders. The initiative increased cost-effectiveness and efficiency of chlamydia/gonorrhea (CT/GC) screening in key sites; improved the quality of client services and partner management; amplified understanding of CT/GC prevention, screening and treatment; and worked effectively with national and regional partners. In 2012, a network of STD-related Reproductive Health Training and Technical Assistance Centers (STDRHTTACs) was established to support STD programs, family planning programs, and public health laboratories to continue delivering high quality STD services.

Methods: A national scan of STDRHTTACs was conducted to identify strategies for continuing collaborations to strengthen the quality and delivery of STD services.

Results: Nationally, STDRHTTACs have communicated with former IPP partners to discuss the project’s new role. Various activities include a coordinated national needs assessment and training and technical assistance to support programs in billing for STD services, a prevalence monitoring toolkit to support programs in monitoring and evaluating CT/GC screening efforts, and a toolkit to guide STD and family planning clinics through the process of building onsite CT/GC treatment dispensing capacity, and an evaluation project to inform various aspects of the chlamydia research agenda.

Conclusions: While significant work on public health program sustainability continues through the STDRHTTACs, more opportunities are needed for the STDRHTTACs to continue leveraging long-standing relationships with STD, family planning, public health laboratory and other key stakeholders to support broader STD AAPPS work across the country.