National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

The purpose of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is to serve as a channel through which directors of public health chronic disease programs of states, territories, commonwealths, districts, and possessions of the United States may advocate public policy, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health chronic disease programs, and enhance professional growth in order to improve the health of the nation.

First organized in 1988 to address the increasing impact of chronic diseases on the American population, NACDD is affiliated with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers, composed of the chief public health executive of each state and territory. NACDD activities help support state efforts by providing educational and training opportunities for its members; an annual chronic disease conference; developing partnerships and collaboratives; advocating for the use of epidemiological approaches to planning chronic disease services and to gathering data about chronic diseases and their risk factors; and developing legislative analyses, materials, policy statements and other resources important to the work of its members.

Partnership Activities

Success Stories. NACDD highlights state successes in chronic disease prevention and control. Please download the following success stories about preventing and controlling cancer.

• California Skin Cancer Prevention Program Targets Youth and Outdoor Workers (PDF-27KB)*
  Educational programs and legislative efforts improve the use of sun safety techniques



• Raising Awareness of Breast and Cervical Cancer to Reach More Women (PDF-28KB)*
  Michigan increases the number of low-income women served through a targeted media campaign



• New York Develops Colorectal Cancer Screening Program (PDF-28KB)*
  Diverse partnership creates a flexible statewide program that saves lives



• Cancer Survivors' Needs Met Through State-Supported Program (PDF-28KB)*
  Funding for services is increased as New York develops a community-based cancer support services initiative



• Rural Oregon Communities Take Action Against Cancer (PDF-28KB)*
  Forums raise awareness of cancer control plans and local resources



• Collaboration to Improve Employee Health (PDF-36KB)*
  Washington State Health Department joins Prevention Research Center to improve cancer interventions

Breast and Cervical Cancer Council. CDC funds the NACDD to coordinate the Breast and Cervical Cancer Council, an organization that serves to link state, territorial, and tribal program directors to act collectively to reduce mortality from breast and cervical cancer. CDC also funds the NACDD's Comprehensive Cancer Interest Group, a networking, capacity-building, and professional development forum for state comprehensive cancer contacts. In addition, the NACDD served on the 2001 Cancer Conference Planning Committee and was a funding sponsor for CDC's 2001 and 2003 Cancer Conferences.

End of Life. CDC also provides funding to NACDD for work on a project to help the public health community, particularly state health departments, achieve greater understanding of End of Life (EOL) as a public health issue. The goal of the project is to define an appropriate role for state health departments in addressing EOL. Since the beginning of the project in October 2002, consensus recommendations for state health department action in EOL were developed, a whitepaper on EOL was written, and information on EOL recommendations was disseminated to state health departments.

National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
2872 Woodcock Boulevard, Suite 220
Atlanta, GA 30341
Telephone: (770) 458-7400
Fax: (770) 458-7401
www.chronicdisease.org*

Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.

*Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.