This policy aid examines six syphilis prevention policy strategies and offers an inside look into how each strategy unfolded, including key implementation steps and considerations for replication and adaptation. The playbook was made possible through interviews with over one dozen STI professionals and is designed to highlight best practices for improving syphilis prevention efforts through effective collaborations with a range of public health partners, including jail/prison systems, emergency rooms, Medicaid, and community groups. 

When people hear the term “playbook,” they often think of sports—a detailed guide to a team’s strategies, plays, and procedures. Similarly, this playbook serves as a strategic guide, but it’s designed for the unique needs of the STI sector and grounded in public health best practices. It presents six distinct syphilis prevention strategies, each of which can be reviewed on its own and adapted for use across the nation. In short, this playbook is an opportunity for public health partners to pull from relevant themes in syphilis prevention strategies that fit within their landscape and align with operational and structural needs. It is meant for readers to select the parts that are most important or applicable for them.

Each policy innovation includes:

1. 1. Region and health department type, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials;
   2. Background information that summarizes development;
   3. Key implementation steps integral to its progress; and
   4. Lessons learned and considerations.

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