COUNCIL OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS INC

Programs

1. In spring 2024, cste conducted the eighth epidemiology capacity assessment (eca) in state and territorial health departments. As the most comprehensive assessment of applied epidemiology capacity in governmental public health, the eca provides a snapshot of the epidemiology workforce, incorporating data from all 50 state health departments and-for the first time since 2001-all u.s. Territorial health departments and freely associated states. The latest eca reveals continued gaps in applied epidemiology capacity and funding, which will likely widen as pandemic era funding expires. Health departments' capacity to conduct essential public health services is being significantly impacted, potentially leaving the u.s. Unprepared to respond to existing or emerging health threats. However, there is good news: eca results can be used to bolster the applied epi workforce and solicit consistent support and funding. Without understanding the gaps, we can't address them. With eca data, cste and public health departments can educate federal policymakers on funding shortfalls, inform state-level decision makers about capacity needs, and tailor recruitment and training efforts to support current…

2. Applied epidemiologists are spread across the country in stlt public health departments. But their work is often cross-jurisdictional-infectious diseases don't pay attention to lines on a map, and non-infectious issues like injury and chronic disease are addressed more effectively through a unified, consistent approach. As the only national organization dedicated to advancing the field of applied epidemiology, cste is the hubwhere applied epidemiologists and public health partners collaborate, strengthen partnerships, and create aligned strategies that enable them to more effectively protect the public's health. One fundamental area cste coordinates is emergency response to outbreaks and other acute public health issues. In the last year alone, cste facilitated response efforts for measles, flu, h5n1 (bird flu), rsv, covid-19, oropouche, and applesauce contaminated by lead, as well as response readiness work for marburg and ebola. This approach enables rapid sharing of information and experiences, driving an integrated national response. Cste also holds hundreds of in-person and online meetings each year. Workgroups including injury surveillance, tribal epidemiology, ecr, and…

3. In public health today, speed is paramount, and detecting threats before they escalate is the cornerstone of an effective response. Syndromic surveillance serves as a critical early-warning system, continuously analyzing streams of real time emergency room-visit data to identify unusual patterns. Cste plays a central role in strengthening this capability nationwide, bridging innovative approaches with practical application to protect communities. A powerful example of successful syndromic surveillance comes from the north carolina department of health and human services (ncdhhs) in the aftermath of hurricane helene in september 2024. Ncdhhs now plans to use this definition for routine monitoring and in future disasters, so public health workers can proactively educate on safe tool use, common injuries, and risks during cleanup, and potentially even provide safety equipment, which can ultimately prevent these injuries from happening. By implementing this definition in the shared nssp essence platform, north carolina is making their innovation available to other jurisdictions using the platform and helping protect residents in other states-demonstrating how knowledge is shared…

The 3 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $0.