National Coalition of STD Directors

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National Coalition of STD Directors

Strengthening the Public Health Response to STIs.
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11/13/2025

Transgender Awareness Week isn’t just about visibility, it’s about health, safety, and empowerment. Here’s why it matters for s*xual health, too. ➡️

11/12/2025

Since taking office this year, the Trump administration has tried to cancel or withhold some federal dollars for s*x education programs.

While decisions about how s*x education is taught are ultimately left to states and school districts, Congressional, legislative, and executive agency actions have both hindered and expanded access to federal funding for comprehensive s*x education — depending on the administration and partisanship.

Our new brief examines federal and state programs and policies on s*x education and summarizes what’s known about their impact on teen s*xual behavior and health. The brief also reviews s*x education models and funding streams.

11/10/2025

This Native American Heritage Month, let's take a look at how Cherokee Nation Health Services and the Raven Collective are working to increase and improve syphilis screenings through emergency departments! Read on for background, or click through for an overview of key implementation strategies and lessons learned. ➡️

To read the full scoop, check out NCSD's "Innovations in Syphilis Policy Playbook" here: https://bit.ly/46CPwzd

🚨 Congenital syphilis rates have disproportionately impacted Native communities across the United States. In 2023 and 2024, the Indian Health Services (IHS) Chief Medical Officer released guidelines for syphilis screening in adults as a response to the crisis.

Since then, IHS data indicate improvements in screening for syphilis in primary care settings across tribal nations, but emergency departments (EDs) require unique policy strategies for implementation.

💡 NCSD interviewed individuals from Cherokee Nation Health Services and The Raven Collective, a Native-owned public health organization, to understand what opt-out syphilis testing looks like across Indian Country in EDs.

The implementation of opt-out syphilis testing differs facility-by-facility and is not a one-size-fits-all approach. However, key implementation strategies stand out that can be replicated.

11/06/2025

Earn free CEUs! The NCSD Learning Center's "S*xually Transmitted Infections and Diseases in Urgent Care Centers" course is available at no cost for the month of November.

More and more patients are turning to urgent care centers for treatment of potential STIs. Urgent care workers play a vital role not only in diagnosing and treating STIs, but also in educating patients on STI prevention.

In this course, you will learn to identify and treat the most commonly encountered s*xually transmitted infections in the urgent care setting and earn 0.5 ANCC credits.

Log in to the Learning Center to get started: https://bit.ly/4oqtmGK

11/04/2025

November 4 is National S*x Toy Day, an opportunity to highlight how pleasure, safety, and STI prevention intersect! Don't shy away from conversations about pleasure and toy use - they can help increase motivation and positive attitudes towards safer s*x practices.

Here are some quick tips for practitioners:
✅ Ask about toy use when appropriate.
✅ Reinforce cleaning and barrier use.
✅ Frame pleasure as part of overall wellness.

Click through for more key messages for public health professionals to keep in mind when working with clients or patients ➡️

Want more information on how pleasure can be used as a tool for STI prevention? Listen to our podcast episodes on the topic to learn more about how pleasure-centered messaging can reduce stigma and strengthen prevention efforts! https://bit.ly/3LkcVgF

11/01/2025

Happy Native American Heritage Month! This month is a time to recognize the history, culture, traditions, and achievements of Indigenous people across North America.

In our sector of work, it's also important to take stock of the health disparities faced by Indigenous people, and commit to doing better by these communities. Click through for some stats from the CDC ➡️

10/31/2025

The true magic? Knowing your status ✨

When you know your STI status, you can make empowered choices: Whether it's getting treatment, accessing PrEP, or having informed conversations with a new partner. STI testing is the real trick to staying on top of your health.

Find testing near you at gettested.cdc.gov

10/29/2025

We hope you'll join us tomorrow, October 30, at 12 pm ET for a special Halloween edition of our PriorityONE live briefing! We'll be exploring the ghosts of policies past, review some of the scariest things that happened in 2025, and take a peek into Bettilou's crystal ball to see what might be brewing in the coming months.

Not signed up for PriorityONE updates yet? Get started and you'll receive a Zoom link for the session the morning of: https://bit.ly/44CN0bA

10/27/2025

October is National Family S*xuality Education Month! Check out our Learning Spotlight video from the NCSD Learning Center about this important month for more information on how it started, why it benefits youth, and how public health professionals can assist parents or caregivers in having conversations around s*xuality.

10/24/2025

Your health journey is yours to define. PrEP Aware Week (Oct 19–25) is about showing up, speaking out, and standing in your truth. Because HIV prevention should be expected, protected, and celebrated. Learn more at prepfors*x.org 💡

10/22/2025

Want to learn more about where things stand with the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program? Don't miss out on our next PriorityONE live briefing, coming up tomorrow at 12 pm ET! We'll be joined by Rachel Fey from Power to Decide. Sign up for alerts and you'll receive a link to register the morning of: https://bit.ly/44CN0bA

PriorityONE allows you to hear directly from experts in policy, communications, health and more so you can stay on top of all of the changes in Washington, federal agencies, and around the nation. By signing up for PriorityONE, you will receive:
💡 PriorityONE Today, a regular email newsletter with updates on changes in Washington, federal agencies, and around the nation; and
💡 Invitations to 30-minute PriorityONE Live Briefings on Thursdays.

10/20/2025

Click through for a sneak peek into some of the lessons learned from our new Innovations in Syphilis Policy Playbook! ➡️

While cases of primary and secondary syphilis have started to show signs of progress, we're still dealing with higher case numbers than we were ten years ago. Additionally, congenital syphilis rates have consistently risen for 12 years in a row, showing an increased need for innovative solutions.

This policy aid examines six syphilis prevention policy strategies and offers an inside look into how each strategy unfolded, including key implementation steps and considerations for replication and adaptation.

Want to dive deeper into each strategy and how it was accomplished, including additional lessons learned? Check out the full playbook: https://bit.ly/46CPwzd

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1717 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington D.C., DC
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+12028424660

Website

http://www.ncsddc.org/

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