Celebrate With Us!

Join us in making some noise on DIS Recognition Day on Friday, October 6th! Tag us (@NCSDDC on Instagram and Twitter or @National Coalition of STD Directors on Facebook and LinkedIn) so we can see and share. We have a toolkit with resources for health departments and others who want to celebrate DIS, as well as a toolkit specifically for DIS.

Since DIS got their start in the 1930s, we’re celebrating with an art deco style as a reminder that for nearly a century DIS have been making a difference with their dedication, willingness to go the extra mile, and ability to create safe spaces for people from all walks of life. Learn More

Why We Celebrate

DIS are the backbone of public health, and all their hard work deserves recognition! They make a direct impact on peoples’ lives and health each day they show up for work.

Despite investing $600 million to build up the DIS network in states and local jurisdictions across the country, the Biden administration rescinded $400 million as part of the recent debt ceiling budget deal earlier this year. This has been a stressful time for DIS, who already work in a hard role. Celebrating and recognizing their hard work is more important than ever this year.

Plus:

• Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) are the backbone of state and local STD/HIV programs.
• DIS serve the most critical role in the reporting and controlling of the spread of STDs, HIV, TB, and hepatitis.
• DIS cover many miles in their attempt to ensure all patients who are infected, or have been exposed to an infection, are notified and treated.
• It is important to celebrate those whose work often goes unrecognized.
• DIS brave unsafe conditions, work weekends and nights, and respond to crises outside of STD/HIV prevention including pertussis, H1N1 influenza, e-coli, covid-19 and other outbreaks.
• DIS are public health heroes dedicated to serving their communities.

Social Media Graphics

We invite you to download and use any of these social media posts to help create a buzz around DIS Recognition Day and the amazing work of DIS! We also have a carousel post with information about who DIS are and what they do. Social media draft language to accompany posts can be found in the toolkit. Make sure to use the hashtags #DISDay2023 #DISRecognitionDay #DISMakeADifference!

Below is an example of the graphics we have available. All graphics can be found here in our Google Drive. Posts are available sized for Instagram and for Twitter, which can also be used on Facebook or LinkedIn.

For the DIS

Check out the toolkit we made just for you to organize all that we put together for this day. We invite you to download and use any of these social media prompts to share your DIS pride! Make sure to use the hashtags #DISDay2023 #DISRecognitionDay #DISMakeADifference and tag us (@NCSDDC on Instagram and Twitter or @National Coalition of STD Directors on Facebook and LinkedIn) so we can share the love!

Save the Date: Drop-In-Social Hour for DIS! We’re having a drop-in social hour to celebrate DIS Recognition Day. Join NCSD staff who used to be DIS as well as fellow DIS across the country to connect, enjoy some mocktails, and have some fun. We’re extending the DIS Day celebration and hosting this virtual social hour on Wednesday, October 4th from 4-5 p.m. EST. Register here and check out our mocktail menu here.

Free Commemorative Coin: Our friends at Chexout have created another unique commemorative coin in honor of DIS Day this year! It’s available for free for all DIS and their teams. Put in your order for one here by October 6.

DIS deserve recognition all year long. As a small gesture of thanks, NCSD has put together sticker templates you can download and print using whatever print service you prefer and Zoom backgrounds (which can also be used as desktop backgrounds). Check them all out here

Who Are DIS?

DIS are remarkable public health professionals who come from a wide variety of background skill-sets and professions. They’re a group of field epidemiologists who identify, track, and prevent the transmission of infections with rich experiences including:

• highly trained public health professionals
• licensed clinicians and medical providers including nurses and physicians
• community health workers and social workers
• lived experiences
• health educators

DIS provide critical services in our communities to improve sexual health education and sexual health outcomes (and sometimes new and reemerging infections also!). Here are some ways DIS work hard every day to help make sex safer:

• provide non-judgmental and inclusive sexual health education
• swiftly connect individuals to screening and treatment services
• confidentially support partner notification (also known as partner services) of individuals potentially exposed
• make referrals to wrap-around services including housing support or syringe exchange
• lead frontline contact tracing efforts for emerging and reemerging infections including tuberculosis, COVID-19, and mpox
• jurisdiction unique services that vary based on the needs of their local communities!

Get a feel for what a day as a DIS is like: