The National Network of Public Health Institutes Launches the Policy Innovation Exchange, a Technical Assistance Resource for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and Tuberculosis Prevention

NNPHI Launches the Policy Innovation Exchange During National Hepatitis Awareness Month and Hepatitis Testing Day to Increase Awareness Around Risk Factors and Advance Policy and Legal Aid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Katy Sandusky, National Network of Public Health Institutes, ksandusky@nnphi.org | Maurice Starks, National Network of Public Health Institutes, mstarks@nnphi.org

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, The Policy Innovation Exchange (PIX), a collaborative effort between the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), its technical assistance (TA) partners, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), launched a new effort aimed to empower decision-makers with the tools and knowledge to advance sexual health evidence-based policy as a public health intervention tool to reduce morbidity, mortality, and disparities for HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis.

“The Policy Innovation Exchange is a first-of-its-kind national resource for state and local decision-makers, public health departments, and other vested stakeholders looking to improve public health outcomes around HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis,” said Adam Lustig, Director of the Bridging portfolio at NNPHI. “PIX’s launch overlaps with National Hepatitis Awareness Month and Hepatitis Testing Day, which uplifts the importance of testing, effective care, and curative treatment for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, as well as the availability of vaccinations for hepatitis A and hepatitis B.”

National Hepatitis Awareness Month provides an opportunity to improve community understanding of viral hepatitis transmission and risk factors, including serious health consequences resulting from undiagnosed and untreated viral hepatitis. Increasing understanding helps decrease social stigma against viral hepatitis. PIX aims to uplift this and other related issues in the field.

PIX offers comprehensive TA to support unique public health needs across communities and sectors by connecting decision-makers with organizations based on expertise and jurisdictional familiarity. The project will also produce proactive resources to inform public health leaders and policymakers, including a robust database, factsheets, presentations, and policy briefs based on current public health policy and legislative trends.

“We understand the difficulty local and state leaders face when making complex public health decisions regarding law and policy issues,” said Lustig. “We believe launching PIX at a moment when evidence-based policy is critical will improve access to tools, resources, and information that improve population health through sustainable policies and practices.”

PIX is made possible through a generous five-year Cooperative Agreement from the CDC, reflecting a commitment to providing essential legal and policy resources to leaders and professionals in the field of public health. The TA partners for PIX include the Morehouse School of Medicine, the National Alliance of State and Territorial Aids Directors, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the Network for Public Health Law. 

Policymakers, public health professionals, and individuals interested in the project can request technical assistance or find more information about PIX at www.pix-ta.org.

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About NNPHI

Mobilizing more than 40 member public health institutes with over $2.2 billion in annual funding – as well as ten university-based regional training centers, and 40 affiliates – NNPHI connects more than 8,000 subject-matter experts with organizational partners across the nation. With an expansive organizational presence and activities across all 50 states, the national network is a go-to resource for analysis and best practices. We also provide important network connections for communities, government agencies, foundations, the health care delivery system, media, and academia.

About the Policy Innovation Exchange

The Policy Innovation Exchange (PIX) aims to advance policy as a public health intervention tool to reduce morbidity, mortality, and disparities for HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis. The resource center will offer comprehensive technical assistance (TA) to support unique public health needs across communities and sectors by connecting decision-makers with organizations based on expertise and jurisdictional familiarity. It will also develop proactive resources to inform public health leaders and policymakers, including a robust database, factsheets, presentations, and policy briefs based on current public health policy and legislative trends.
 

About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven service organization that protects the public’s health. For over 70 years, we’ve put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and to protect the public’s health.