National Networks for
Community Change
CDC's Healthy Communities Program is mobilizing national networks that will provide technical support and training to the program's communities.
The
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) provides state-based leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control at the state and national levels by developing partnerships to pursue common goals, developing legislative analyses concerning state chronic disease programs, advocating data-based planning and evidence-based interventions, and providing educational and training opportunities for its members. NACDD was officially founded in 1988 to link the chronic disease program directors of each state and territory into a national forum for chronic disease prevention and control. NACDD has more than 1,500 members representing chronic disease and health promotion programs at state health departments, in university settings, and in other public health-related fields. The not-for-profit organization has worked closely with CDC on the development and implementation of programs directed to state health departments to ensure that chronic disease strategies are compatible with states needs.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is a not-for-profit membership organization serving all of the nearly 3,000 local health departments (LHDs) nationwide in cities, counties, townships, and districts. NACCHO's mission is to provide education, information, research, and technical assistance to LHDs and facilitate partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies in order to promote and strengthen public health. The goal of NACCHO's Chronic Disease Prevention Projects is to strengthen LHD capacity to engage in comprehensive chronic disease prevention using policy, systems, and environmental strategies, as well as health promotion activities.
The
National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation, and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 21,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
The
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), a not-for-profit professional organization founded in 1950, is the only independent professional organization devoted exclusively to public health education and health promotion. It works to provide leadership to the profession of public health education, as well as to contribute to the health of all people and the elimination of disparities through advances in health education theory and research, excellence in professional preparation and practice, and advocacy for public policies conducive to health. The Society promotes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, its network of local chapters, and its numerous partnerships with other organizations. There are more than 20 SOPHE chapters covering 30+ states, northern Mexico, and western Canada.
The
YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) is the national resource office for the nation's YMCAs. Located in Chicago, with satellite offices across the country, Y-USA is staffed by about 350 employees. The YMCA was established in the United States in 1851 and is one of the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in the nation. The 2,686 YMCAs serve thousands of communities in the United States. Through its health and well-being programs, the YMCA is playing a major role in the health promotion and chronic disease prevention revolution that is saving lives, improving health, and reducing health care costs. The community development efforts of YMCAs over the years have initiated important programs and activities, such as parent–child programs, youth-in-government programs, day and summer camps, and child care and after-school care. Today, the YMCA recognizes these health benefits as critical to the nation’s efforts to combat the crisis of chronic disease—including heart disease and stroke, cancer, and diabetes.
State Health Departments are funded through a 5-year cooperative agreement with CDC to provide technical assistance, training, and consultation to communities on promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing chronic disease through policy, systems, and environmental changes. These activities will further CDC’s Healthy Communities Program goals by fostering strong partnerships between states, CDC, and the program’s many communities and partners. Local communities will benefit because this collaboration forges a direct relationship between them and state health department staff and provides an additional avenue for technical support, communication, and training. Communities who work with states will learn more about the state’s priority objectives for preventing chronic diseases and strategies for supporting those objectives. The states and CDC will both benefit from this arrangement through the creation and testing of innovative health promotion activities, which results in the documentation of best practices and publication of inspirational stories that will assist other communities in their work.
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