Disease Intervention Training Centers (DITC) (PS20-2003): Program and other NOFO Guidance

This page provides links to general information about PS20-2003, as well as tools and information to assist applicants with the NOFO application process.

Overview

CDC announces availability of funding for a cooperative agreement for the Disease Intervention Training Centers (DITC). The purpose of this NOFO is strengthen the capacity of local and state health departments to conduct STD/HIV intervention services.  This national training center network will support workforce capacity building for a critical classification of public health staff, Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS). DIS are core personnel in many local and state health departments who conduct investigation of communicable diseases and a number of tasks related to preventing the spread of transmission of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and HIV. These tasks include but are not limited to: client-centered interviews; collection of enhanced surveillance and community assessment data; partner services, including contact tracing; field investigation and other field-based activities, including specimen collection, directly observed therapy; community outreach; collaboration with medical providers and navigation of health care systems to ensure patient evaluation, treatment, linkage to care and other supportive services; and mobilization for outbreak investigation and emergency response. Recent assessments completed for the National Disease Intervention Specialist (DIS) Certification Projectexternal icon, revealed a need for standardization of DIS training to ensure comprehensive skills sets for this classification nationwide, and enhancement of current DIS training platforms to better support the core functions of the classification. Standardized training for DIS nationwide is essential for consistency and quality of disease intervention practice, as well as ensuring transference of uniform skills for cross-program and cross-jurisdictional response. State and local health departments have also identified other staff classifications (e.g., public health nurses, patient navigators, linkage to care specialists), conducting STD and HIV intervention work, for whom the same practice standards and training are relevant.

Funding will support a network of curriculum development and training centers, serving local and state health jurisdictions, throughout the United States. Award recipients for CDC-RFA-PS20-2003 are as follows:

• Track A) National Online Curriculum Development and Training Center: National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), Washington, DC
• Track B) National Instructor-led Curriculum Development Center: The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
• Track C) Regional Instructor-led Skills-based Training center(s)