The 2017 CDC STD Surveillance Report documented continued steep and sustained increases in the three reportable STDs – gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.
Congenital syphilis rates reached a 20-year high in 201 7. Healthcare providers and health systems remain at the forefront of the battle
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against STDs.
Provider education, technical assistance, and clinical capacity building are critical pieces for a foundation of comprehensive STD clinical prevention in healthcare settings.
A dynamic and complex healthcare landscape demands innovative methods to reach both clinicians and healthcare settings from a variety of sectors throughout the U.S in order to meet the goal of optimal STD clinical prevention implementation in the clinical care setting.
The purpose of this NOFO is to support The National Network of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC).
This network is charged with improving the capacity of healthcare professionals, clinical sites and healthcare systems to employ state-of-the-art knowledge to diagnose, manage, treat and counsel individuals with and at-risk for STDs in order to reduce STD morbidity and improve sexual health on an individual, local and national level.
This NOFO supports the following broad strategies :
Component A Regional Centers:
A1 (Core) - assess training needs and service gaps to inform the development and delivery of comprehensive STD clinical prevention T/TA for providers serving priority populations; A2 (Focus Activity) - provide support to providers and clinical settings to integrate HIV preventive services in STD specialty clinics; A3 (Focus Activity) - support the fellow training program.
Component B National STD PTC Coordination Center [NPTC3]; B1 (Core) will facilitate coordination of the NNPTC, collect data to inform training strategies, manage a clinical consultation line and promote the NNPTC; B2 (NPTC3 Focus Activity) - coordinate support for PTCs participating in Focus Activity A1; Component C National STD Curriculum Center [NSTDC]; C1 (Core) - develop an online STD curriculum, develop and facilitate national learning communities and work with regional PTCs to scale up ECHO and other distance learning approaches; C2 (NSTDC Focus Activity) - develop resources, curricula and learning communities specifically to support the increase of HIV preventive services in STD specialty clinics.