National Coalition of STD Directors

As part of a larger policy strategy to strengthen the position of STD programs nationally, NCSD contracted with the Policy Resource Group (led by Beth Meyerson, former Missouri STD/AIDS director) to conduct a needs assessment focusing on STD program infrastructure. STD program infrastructure refers to the systems, competencies, relationships and resources that enable performance of STD program core functions in every community.

Final results of the Needs Assessment Survey

The needs assessment focused on the funding, staffing, epidemiologic burden and core functions of STD programs during three time periods: 1995, 2000 and 2003 as estimated by STD directors. Below are the research objectives:

Objective 1:
Identify trends in federal, state and local funding for STD programs generally and by program focus (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia). Evaluate whether a relationship exists between case rate, staffing levels and resource levels. Identify issues associated with the types of funding: categorical, supplemental, etc.

Objective 2:
Evaluate costs of STD prevention. Identify trends in cost by category and identify areas of cost overrun.

Objective 3: 
Evaluate trends in staffing levels generally and by program function. Identify the impact of understaffing, identify organizational elements confounding staffing, and projected staffing need. Classify by type of staff (DA, FA, contract, etc.).

Objective 4: 
Assess project area ability to accomplish the core functions associated with STD prevention. (These were identified by STD directors in December 2000 at a meeting in Milwaukee, WI). Associate survey responses with phases of STD epidemic.

Objective 5:
Assess project area need for technical assistance, and the ability to provide peer technical assistance.

The method of gathering information for the STD needs assessment included the following activities:

• Interviews with experienced STD program directors
  to establish trend context
  
  
• Survey of STD directors with focus on 1995, 2000
  and expected needs in 2003
  
  
• Archival review of the "unmet need" section in the 1992
  STD grants to CDC
  
  
• Review of CDC funding levels (categorized by DA and FA)
  
  
• Review of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia rates

This project is under the direction of a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprised of NCSD members and staff. STD directors had the opportunity to comment and provide input on the methodology at a meeting in Milwaukee on December 3, 2000 and at the NCSD Annual Meeting in April 2001.

Final results of the Needs Assessment Survey