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Curriculum Development: NACDD

New Project: Curriculum Development: NACDD
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National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)

Category: Curriculum Development ›

The Challenge:

NACDD is a national public health association for chronic disease program directors of each state and U.S. territory. Since its founding in 1988, NACDD has been a national leader in mobilizing efforts to reduce chronic diseases and their associated risk factors through state and community-based prevention strategies. One of its key missions is to provide educational and training opportunities for its members.

In support of its mission, NACDD sought to develop a catalog of professional development workshops to provide an opportunity for chronic disease professionals at the local, regional, and state levels to focus on skill-building training activities intended to provide a:

  • Valuable training experience for chronic disease program directors, managers, & staff members.
  • Networking forum for attendees to encourage partnership opportunities & increase program sustainability.
  • Collection of best practices and proven interventions to practitioners who can utilize them in their work.

The Solution:

Using a concept map-based assessment of the competencies required of state chronic disease program directors and managers, CSI created, piloted, and revised a series of courses for NACDD's yearly Chronic Disease Academy training workshops. Our highly trained staff facilitated the process of engaging NACDD consultants and members, as well as others with relevant background and potential, to contribute as members of Design Advisory Teams or as Subject Matter Experts. The process for each course development included several distinct phases:
     Phase 1: Planning and Project Management
     Phase 2: Design
     Phase 3: Development
     Phase 4: Pilot
     Phase 5: Evaluation
     Phase 6: Revision

The Results:

Through work with CSI, NACDD was able to institute four 1-1½ day courses into its Academy and as traveling courses which can be delivered at the state or regional level. The courses include:

  • Strategic Leadership in Chronic Disease
  • Building the Business Case for Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Re-Imagining the Box: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Chronic Disease
  • Navigating Cooperative Agreements

The instructional design approach for each of these workshops feature peer centered, problem based learning through a combination of interactive, small and large group learning activities and scenario analyses. Facilitator guides, participant guides, case studies, and PowerPoint presentations are included for each course.

The Academy has been reported to be very valuable to those who attend, and has served the chronic disease prevention and health promotion profession.