Public health approaches to North Carolina's STD epidemic.

he Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in their 1997 report The Hidden Epidemic, Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, concluded that an effective national system of STD Prevention did not exist. As they discussed gaps, new approaches and collaborations, they developed the following vision statement to guide their work: “An effective system of services and information that supports individuals, families, and communities in preventing STDs, including HIV infection, and ensures comprehensive, high-quality STD related health services for all persons.” 1 This vision recognizes that successful STD prevention systems must insure individual and community participation, and coordination of related programs. While identifying and commiting adequate local and statewide resources and support to implement STD programs are critical, successful STD programs are built upon collaborations which involve a wide variety of stakeholders. Components of North Carolina’s STD and HIV programs are frequently cited as national models. North Carolina’s STD and HIV programs are a mix of traditional and communitybased approaches. This mix, combined with strong programto-program collaborations and strategies, have strengthened our collective ability to prevent the spread of STDs, including HIV/AIDS, despite our serious funding challenges. Traditional Collaborations That Work: Local Health Departments And Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS)