Special Workshops

The following are special workshops being offered prior to and following the 2024 National STD Prevention Conference. For more information, click on the workshops below.

STD 101

Practical Use of Evaluation to Improve STD Programs 

STD Communications Database and STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy Training-CLOSED

STD 101

Monday, March 8, 2024

8:30 AM-1:00 PM

The STD 101 pre-conference workshop will take place Monday, March 8, 2024, from 8:30 AM-1:00 PM at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, the site of the 2024 National STD Prevention Conference. Pre-registration is preferred but not required. 

This special pre-conference session is designed for persons attending the National STD Conference who have limited experience in the field of STD Prevention. Participants who would find this session useful include: community-based organization employees, new DIS, program administrators, students, researchers, or anyone who is new to the field or simply interested in updating their knowledge. This exciting session will include presentations from prestigious representatives from the National Network of Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC), the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

  • List common STDs
  • Identify areas in the US with high STD morbidity; identify populations with increased STD morbidity
  • Describe the importance of screening and early detection of STDs
  • Describe the connection between STDs and other conditions such as HIV, TB, and substance abuse
  • Describe current STD interventions
  • Describe the STD public health system at the federal and state/local levels

Pre-registration

Instructions for Pre-registration

  1. Click here to open the registration form
  2. Select “Save” from the dialog box
  3. Save the registration form to your computer
  4. Complete the registration form (be sure to complete all items)
  5. Send your completed registration form as an e-mail attachment to

For more information, contact Bruce Heath at CDC, Division of STD Prevention, via e-mail () or phone (1 404 639 8360).

Practical Use of Evaluation to Improve STD Programs

Thursday, March 11, 2024

1:30-5:30 PM

Purpose: The Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention (DSTDP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funds state and local health departments to prevent and control STDs nationwide.  To assist these agencies determine their programs’ accomplishments, how resources have been invested, what should be improved, and plan effective strategies, evaluation should be an integral part of day-to-day activities.  The purpose of this workshop session is to prepare program staff of STD programs funded by CDC for the upcoming Comprehensive STD Prevention Systems (CSPS) program announcement where program evaluation will be one of the essential functions emphasized.

This workshop will discuss examples from the field where evaluation has been used to improve programs, DSTDP’s expectations about program evaluation, an overview of the key steps CDC recommends to evaluate public health programs, how to write SMART objectives, basics of logic modeling, components of an evaluation plan, and the process for requesting and receiving evaluation technical assistance.  The workshop will be conducted in a participatory manner.  Learning will occur through large and small groups and other interactive learning activities. Workshop facilitators will also introduce additional resources available to assist participants in their own program evaluation after they return home.

Target Audience: The primary audience for this training are individuals directly engaged in the management, coordination and evaluation of STD programs including program administrators and coordinators, Senior Public Health Advisors, and those interested in building their capacity to engage their staff in program planning and in evaluation of STD programs.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: (1) recognize the importance and use of program evaluation to improve STD programs, (2) list and describe the key steps necessary to evaluate public health programs, (3) develop SMART objectives, (4) understand what a logic model is, (5) identify the components of an evaluation plan, and (6) identify resources available for evaluation technical assistance.

Pre-registration: This workshop session is free of charge and, due to a preset number of participants that can attend, individuals are encouraged to pre-register for this workshop session. Pre-registration will not only help with the logistics of the workshop and group activities, but also to ensure availability of materials for all participants at the session. Please fill out the registration form and complete all the items.

Instructions for Pre-registration

  1. Click here to open the registration form
  2. Select “Save” from the dialog box
  3. Save the registration form to your computer
  4. Complete the registration form (be sure to complete all items)
  5. Send your completed registration form as an e-mail attachment to

Note: Since the session will go until 5:30 PM, federal participants may be approved for an additional night, depending on flight schedules and time of arrival back at permanent duty station. Non-federal participants will be subject to local travel policies.

STD Communications Database and STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy Training-CLOSED

Sunday, March 7, 2024

9:00 AM-4:30 PM

The STD Communications Database and STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy training workshop will be held Sunday, March 7, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the site of the 2024 National STD Prevention Conference.  Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

This pre-conference training workshop will highlight two innovative health communication tools developed by the Division of STD Prevention at CDC:  the STD Communications Database and the STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy.  Both of these tools were developed to assist public health professionals plan, develop, implement, and evaluate health communication interventions specific to their communities for STD prevention.

By the end of the training, participants will be able to

  • Effectively navigate the STD Communications Database and STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy
  • Describe how to use these tools to develop a communication plan and target-specific messages
  • List the benefits of using these tools when they return to their offices

The web-based STD Communications Database provides easy access to a comprehensive reference of evidence-based communication interventions peer-reviewed journal articles, and target audience profiles.  The database houses information specific to a variety of STDs and target audiences that can be used to guide health communication interventions or message development in a cost-effective, timely, and efficient manner.  The database also provides zip code level demographic and lifestyle information that can assist in making decisions about target marketing, media planning, and consumer behavior (e.g. where they spend their time, interests, attitudes, etc).  The database is accessible at http://www.cdc.gov/std/commdata.

The STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy is an interactive CD-ROM-based tool that provides practical, step-by-step assistance to public health professionals in designing effective health communication plans.  Instead of assuming communication is the answer to every health problem, CDCynergy guides the user through a process of examining the causes of the problem and possible interventions.  Only after understanding the role communication will play in the selected intervention does CDCynergy then guide the user through the process of learning about the target audiences and how to best communicate with them.

Pre-conference training participants will receive a copy of the STD Prevention Edition of CDCynergy and access to all parts of the STD Communications Database.  This special workshop is designed for government-funded public health program staff members who work on health education and health communication aspects of STD prevention programs.  This training workshop is free of charge, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.  Participants will need to bring their own laptops.

Instructions for Pre-registration

  1. Click here to open the registration form
  2. Select “Save” from the dialog box
  3. Save the registration form to your computer
  4. Complete the registration form (be sure to complete all items)
  5. Send your completed registration form as an e-mail attachment to