Applications Now Open for NACCHO's Survive and Thrive Program   
Survive and Thrive is a learning opportunity to enhance the skills of new local health officials. Survive and Thrive "fellows" gain practical tools and tactics to help engage elected officials and community partners; best manage strategic planning and human, financial, and information resources; and bolster their ability to resolve challenges unique to their new role at a local health department. There are three application options: new local health officials, aspiring local health officials, and coaches. Click here to learn more about which application is appropriate for you, and then start the application process! Applications are due by 11:59 PM EDT on Monday, October 15, 2012. 

STDPO Forum for Local Responses to CDC's New Gonorrhea Treatment Guidelines
On August 9, the CDC released updated treatment guidelines for gonorrhea. To learn more about the implications of the new guidelines, STDPreventionOnline (STDPO) created a forum to discuss the local implications of implementing the guidelines. The forum also invites people to post changes to local guidelines (guidelines can be uploaded to "Resources") that may serve as templates for others who are still contemplating new directives. To participate in the forum, go to stdpreventiononline.org. If you do not already have a login, you will have to create one.  

Webinar Announcement: The Impact of Stigma on Public Health
As part of their ongoing work to address stigma and discrimination experienced by Black and Latino gay men/MSM, the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) and the National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) will host a webinar on Wednesday, September 12 from 1-2:00 PM EDT to present the findings from their national stigma assessment and to discuss stigma-specific tools to assist health departments address institutional and community-level stigma. Dr. Patrick Wilson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Socio-medical Sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, will present the assessment findings and discuss the impact of stigma on public health practice and community support networks. Dana Cropper Williams, Director of Training and Education at NCSD, will present two Optimal Care Checklists tailored for health care providers and patients. Click here to register for the webinar. 

New Report on Ending the HIV Epidemic among Gay Men in the U.S.
The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and Trust for America's Health recently released an issue brief that examines the urgency of addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic among gay men in the United States and the opportunity to make accelerated progress against the domestic gay epidemic. The report is based on a series of consultations held over the past year. Click here to access the full report. 

Every three years, the National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC) conducts a School-Based Health Center Policy Survey of Public Health and Medicaid agencies' state departments. On Tuesday, September 11 from 3-4:00 PM EDT, NASBHC is hosting a free webinar to review the results from the 2011 survey. After the webinar, participants will be able to identify the states that funded SBHCs in 2011, list three of the most frequently tracked performance indicators by state public health agencies, and identify states that have SHBC Medicaid policies. To register, click here.

Submit Model Practices Applications Oct. 1-Oct. 31
Since 2003, NACCHO's Model Practices Program has honored and recognized outstanding local public health practices and shared these practices through the Model Practices Database. Share what works by submitting a practice and contribute to the overall improvement of public health through evidence-based practice methods. The submission period is from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31. To learn more about the program and why you should apply, click here.