IMPACT = Inclusive Metrics for Policy Assessment and Cultural Transformation

NCSD piloted its IMPACT tool in 2023 to measure the extent to which state-level legislation impacts STIs, including accessibility and affordability of services for patients, as well as policy levers that can support providers in their clinical work.

The IMPACT scoring system has been refined across several state legislative sessions and reviewed by a panel of STI public health professionals to transform the IMPACT tool into a flexible resource for analyzing policies in real time. This page includes links to documents that further detail the tool’s methodology and scorecards.

This tool can be used by public health professionals to educate policymakers, discuss the benefits and challenges of legislation, and supplement messaging. It can also be used for educational purposes to understand the nuances of state legislation.

2025 Score Cards

2025 Report

Tips for Adaptation

Individuals, organizations, and agencies may be interested in using the tool to create their own assessments that rely on jurisdictional, regional, or other specific criteria. Below are NCSD’s recommendations for those interested in adapting the tool:

1. 1. 1. Consider changing language in any of the nine categories based on jurisdictional or regional needs. For example, consider how terms like “medically accurate” are defined within a particular state, or whether certain guidelines carry more weight for credibility and accuracy. 
      2. Consider “local forecasting” strategies to analyze the implementation of a policy and assess its observed impact over time. 
      3. Consider adding regionally tailored questions or metrics to inform scoring, such as ratings from local organizations or metrics required by state law, such as fiscal impact analyses.