Community Trace: Rapid Establishment of a Volunteer Contact Tracing Program for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57
Author(s):  
Linda Niccolai ◽  
Tyler Shelby ◽  
Brian Weeks ◽  
Christopher Schenck ◽  
Justin Goodwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Technological Innovations ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
New Haven ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
The Core ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Public Health Strategies

Contact tracing was one of the core public health strategies implemented during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this essay, we describe the rapid establishment of a volunteer contact tracing program in New Haven, Connecticut. We describe successes of the program and challenges that were faced. Going forward, contact tracing efforts can best be supported by increased funding to state and local health departments for a stable workforce and use of evidence-based technological innovations.

scholarly journals HIV Testing and Positivity Patterns of Partners of HIV-Diagnosed People in Partner Services Programs, United States, 2013-2014

2017 ◽  
Vol 132 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Song ◽  
Mesfin S. Mulatu ◽  
Michele Rorie ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
John W. Gilford
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Undiagnosed Hiv ◽  
State And Local

Objective: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) partner services are an integral part of comprehensive HIV prevention programs. We examined the patterns of HIV testing and positivity among partners of HIV-diagnosed people who participated in partner services programs in CDC-funded state and local health departments. Methods: We analyzed data on 21 484 partners submitted in 2013-2014 by 55 health departments. We conducted descriptive and multivariate analyses to examine patterns of HIV testing and positivity by demographic characteristics and geographic region. Results: Of 21 484 partners, 16 275 (75.8%) were tested for HIV; 4503 of 12 886 (34.9%) partners with test results were identified as newly HIV-positive. Compared with partners aged 13-24, partners aged 35-44 were less likely to be tested for HIV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.95) and more likely to be HIV-positive (aOR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.20-1.52). Partners who were male (aOR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.97) and non-Hispanic black (aOR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.63-0.74) were less likely to be tested but more likely to be HIV-positive (male aOR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.64-2.01; non-Hispanic black aOR = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.38-1.66) than partners who were female and non-Hispanic white, respectively. Partners in the South were more likely than partners in the Midwest to be tested for HIV (aOR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.35-1.80) and to be HIV-positive (aOR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.81-2.65). Conclusions: Partner services programs implemented by CDC-funded health departments are successful in providing HIV testing services and identifying previously undiagnosed HIV infections among partners of HIV-diagnosed people. Demographic and regional differences suggest the need to tailor these programs to address unique needs of the target populations.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

1942 ◽  
Vol 120 (11) ◽  
pp. 828 ◽  
Author(s):  
OTIS L. ANDERSON ◽  
WALTER CLARKE ◽  
WALDEMAR C. DREESSEN ◽  
EMERY R. HAYHURST ◽  
EDWARD C. HOLMBLAD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
State And Local

scholarly journals Indicators to Guide and Monitor Climate Change Adaptation in the US Pacific Northwest

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-188
Author(s):  
Annie Doubleday ◽  
Nicole A. Errett ◽  
Kristie L. Ebi ◽  
Jeremy J. Hess
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
The Us ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Context Specific

Objectives. To develop a set of indicators to guide and monitor climate change adaptation in US state and local health departments. Methods. We performed a narrative review of literature on indicators of climate change adaptation and public health service capacity, mapped the findings onto activities grouped by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ten Essential Services, and drafted potential indicators to discuss with practitioners. We then refined the indicators after key informant interviews with 17 health department officials in the US Pacific Northwest in fall 2018. Results. Informants identified a need for clarity regarding state and local public health’s role in climate change adaptation, integration of adaptation into existing programs, and strengthening of communication, partnerships, and response capacity to increase resilience. We propose a set of climate change indicators applicable for state and local health departments. Conclusions. With additional context-specific refinement, the proposed indicators can aid agencies in tracking adaptation efforts. The generalizability, robustness, and relevance of the proposed indicators should be explored in other settings with a broader set of stakeholders.

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