New Federal Funding Support for Disease Intervention Specialists
Dear Colleague,
May 13, 2021
We are writing to share with you today’s White House announcementexternal icon, which includes a $1.13 billion investment to strengthen the disease intervention specialists (DIS) workforce. This funding is from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and will be used over a five-year period to support DIS and DIS-related training and retention, and related technological advances to address COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across the nation.
For many years DIS have provided invaluable supportpdf icon for STDs, tuberculosis, HIV, and other infectious diseases. They have also been called upon throughout the years to respond to emerging threats like Ebola, Zika, as well as outbreaks and clusters of hepatitis A, hepatitis C, and HIV. Their unique skillset and role in intervening in the spread of diseases came into the spotlight in 2020 as a critical component of our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With these resources, CDC will expand the DIS workforce so that the United States can respond to COVID-19 and other epidemics. This funding will allow health departments to increase their capacity to conduct disease investigation (case investigation and contact tracing), linkage to prevention and treatment, case management and oversight, and outbreak response for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. CDC aims to increase training opportunities so DIS have the skills they need when they enter the field. We will also leverage a portion of the investment to advance innovation in the way we deliver partner services.
We are working quickly to get this new investment to our health department recipients in a manner that ensures strategic and transparent distribution of resources. We will update you as we have more to share.
Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
/Raul Romaguera/
Raul Romaguera, DMD, MPH
Acting Director, Division of STD Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/std
/Deron C. Burton/
Deron C. Burton, MD, JD, MPH (CAPT, USPHS)
Acting Director
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/nchhstp
