The next Policy Academy cohort will take place in Summer 2023!
Applications  for this cohort will be closing on Friday, May 26 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Through the Policy Academy, NCSD’s policy team trains individuals from state and local health department, STD programs, and allies on how to engage in policy and policymaker education safely and effectively. By providing an overview of policy basics and options, and building skills to navigate policy, NCSD strives to demystify policy work and empower STD program staff to effectively utilize this powerful strategy.

The Policy Academy has several learning objectives for participants: 

• • • Learn policy basics and legislative and non-legislative options  
    • Learn how to engage in policy and policymaker education safely 
    • Recognize and integrate health equity into policy goals  
    • Gain skills to address public health program challenges through policy 
    • Understand how to leverage partnerships and coalitions 
    • Develop messaging that resonates with various audiences 
    • Understand how to evaluate policy quality and effectiveness 

In addition to one-on-one technical assistance throughout the Policy Academy, NCSD will assist participants with activities such as in-state education briefings or meetings, factsheet creation, and messaging development. 

To fully take part in the Policy Academy, participants should plan on the following: 

• • • Participate in a Meet-and-Greet with NCSD staff for orientation, personalized assistance on your policy topic, and to discuss options.  
    • Complete four 20-30 min long modules in NCSD’s Learning Management System, Absorb, prior to the in-person training, and complete homework assignments associated with each module.  
    • Participate in two Zoom trainings and one, two-day in-person training in Washington, D.C. in late July for interactive skills-building sessions. 
    • Participate in two follow-up meetings after the Policy Academy concludes to discuss the development of a policy goal (set to take place in Nov 2023 and Feb 2024). 

In the years since the Policy Academy began, more than 150 participants have been trained. Participants come from state and local health departments and other allied partners. These participants have addressed policy topics ranging from expedited partner therapy (EPT) to STD prevention partner-related barriers to third-trimester syphilis testing requirements. In many cases, the time spent tackling these topics in the Policy Academy has ultimately led to policy movement at the state-level!