Adriane Casalotti, MPH, MSW, Chief of Government and Public Affairs at NACCHO, is one of two co-chairs of a newly developed National STI Coalition with the goal of improving the health of those living with and disproportionately impacted by sexually transmitted infections (STI). The coalition was formed with the leadership of NACCHO, the National Coalition of STD Directors and 15 other national advocacy organizations to advance shared public health policy goals.

The announcement comes after the recent Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) report showing that STI reached an all-time high in the US. The Coalition will focus its efforts on areas identified to address the current state of the STI epidemic, including policies that support access to high-quality STI services and expanded federal resources for STI prevention and treatment programs, activities, and research. The Coalition will also focus on public health workforce capacity and emerging threats, including climbing rates of congenital syphilis and the looming threat of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.

Multiple articles appeared in the press recently about the coalition, including from Poz “National STI Coalition Forms to Buck a Major Public Health Crisis,” Infectious Disease News “Q&A: 17-member coalition aims to speak with ‘one voice’ on STIs,” and Bay Area Reporter “National STI Coalition to seek ‘policy opportunities’ in president’s budget.”