The next Policy Academy cohort will begin in 2025. Applications for 2024 are closed.

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:

Join a 30-minute one-on-one Zoom interview with NCSD staff to discuss your overall goals with the Policy Academy and to discuss travel to the in-person meeting. Interviews will take place during the month of April 2024 and NCSD staff will schedule your interview after you apply.

• • • Watch five 20–30-minute modules from May to August 2024 (there will be specific deadlines by which each module must be finished).
    • Complete all homework assignments and one policy “pitch” presentation.
    • Participate in four Zoom meetings throughout summer 2024:
    • NCSD Policy Academy orientation (virtual): May 9, 2024 from 3-4 pm ET
    • Little P policy bootcamp (virtual): May 30, 2024, 90 minutes
    • Big P policy bootcamp (virtual): June 27, 2024, 90 minutes
    • Either DoxyPEP or Congenital Syphilis Topic Training (Virtual): July & August 2024
    • Attend the in-person training in Chicago, Illinois from September 5-6, 2024
    • Participate in two follow-up virtual meetings after the Policy Academy concludes to discuss implementation challenges and successes of your policy goal (December 2024 and March 2025).

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! 

Questions? Reach out to Christopher Zivalich, Senior Manager, State Policy, at czivalich@ncsddc.org.