Building the Value Case
The Chronic Disease Surveillance Modernization Strategic Plan lays out six key strategies designed to strengthen and transform chronic disease surveillance. Each strategy serves as a pathway to help achieve the plan’s overarching goals, equipping public health agencies with the tools to leverage a modernized information ecosystem to equitably transform chronic disease surveillance and promote thriving, connected communities. Explore each strategy to discover detailed objectives and identify opportunities for action that align with your priorities. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to enhance your efforts, read on for practical implementation steps to help jumpstart or advance your modernization journey.
Start by completing the self-assessment with your chronic disease surveillance data modernization team.
Your team may include program managers, data modernization leads, IT staff, data managers, epidemiologists, evaluators, and other key partners involved in planning and implementation.
Use your results to identify which strategies to prioritize, then explore the toolkit for relevant resources, tools, and guidance to support those efforts.
This assessment is not meant to define an ideal end stage. Instead, it highlights multiple pathways to help your health department build capacity based on your unique context and needs.
Building a compelling value case helps communicate how modernizing outdated systems can lead to better, faster, and more equitable health outcomes. Use this guide and the supporting tools to clarify your message and gain buy-in for chronic disease surveillance modernization.
Step 1: Build Your Elevator Pitch
Craft a short statement that connects your priorities to the broader vision for modernization
Who are you?
Why should they listen?
What are you asking?
What’s in it for them?
Describe your role and why you’re raising this now.
Use data and your experience to make leadership understand.
Be specific and describe the investment needed.
Tailor your message to align with your audiences’ priorities and values. Show how improve data systems directly support the actions they want to take.
Tip! Collaborate with colleagues across programs to co-create your value case and make it stronger. A shared vision makes for a stronger pitch.
Step 2: Use the Strategic Plan to Guide Messaging
Anchor your value case in the CSTE Chronic Disease Surveillance Modernization Strategic Plan vision and goals.
Vision Statement
Diverse partners can leverage a modernized information ecosystem to equitably transform chronic disease surveillance and promote thriving, connected communities.
Messaging should describe why data modernization is important for reducing chronic disease mortality and morbidity in your local communities.
How will faster, comprehensive data guide decision-making about public health action and improve your ability to serve your jurisdictions and improve health?
Use Tools and Templates
Explore these ready-to-use resources to bring your value case to life. Click the images below to learn more
PHII’s Data Modernization Planning Toolkit
Worksheets and examples to help build your case
Informatics-Savvy Health Department Toolkit
Practical guidance for making your pitch and gaining support
PHII Communication Tools
Sample talking points, elevator pitches, and messaging guides for public health informatics.
CSTE Strategic Plan Talking Points
A guide to sharing the strategic plan with key partners.
Relationships are the foundational.
Start by completing the self-assessment with your chronic disease surveillance data modernization team.
Building relationships and establishing data governance across and within jurisdictions supports resource sharing, improved data flow, and better chronic disease outcomes. By fostering intra-jurisdictional and cross-sector collaboration, public health agencies can better align priorities, leverage shared expertise, and enhance data-sharing capabilities.
Step 1: Strengthen Internal Collaboration
- Identify current chronic disease prevention partners and discuss potential engagement methods to maintain, strengthen, and build partner relationships.
- Connecting colleagues across IT, program managers, and chronic disease staff can help align priorities, share expertise, and raise awareness of the value of modernization.
Tip! Use the Partner Mapping Template to identify current collaborators and new connections to pursue.
Step 2: Engage Cross-Sector Partners
- Build on your internal momentum by identifying and connecting with external partners who can support your modernization goals.
Consider reaching out to:
- Local and state health departments (including infectious disease teams)
- Healthcare providers and hospital systems
- EHR vendors and developers
- Health Information Exchanges (HIEs)
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Public health academic programs and researchers
Step 3: Develop Recurring Opportunities to Collaborate
- Establish new or leverage existing partner workgroups to regularly review surveillance trends, assess modernization progress, and share questions and experiences
- Visit Communities and Collaboration to explore current chronic disease data modernization workgroups.
Tip! Use our workgroup charter to define participant roles and responsibilities.
Funding Considerations
This section highlights previous funding opportunities that support chronic disease surveillance modernization. In collaboration with internal and external partners, explore ways to braid and layer funding streams within your public health agency to strengthen data modernization efforts. Braiding and layering combine multiple funding sources to support a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to chronic disease surveillance. These strategies not only amplify the impact of your investments but can also align with the themes of your value case, demonstrating how shared resources can drive positive change across multiple programs within your health department or among other partners. Building on the partnerships you’ve identified, effective braiding and layering reinforce the need for clearly defined, shared goals across programs. By pooling resources, STLT jurisdictions can improve infrastructure, extend capacity, and strengthen long-term chronic disease surveillance systems.
Funding and Support Mechanisms for Chronic Disease Data Modernization
PHIG Data Modernization Implementation Center program: CDC funds ASTHO, NNPHI, and PHAB to lead the Implementation Center program. The program which provides direct technical assistance to public health agencies (PHAs) on data modernization initiatives, regardless of whether PHAs have received other data modernization funding. PHAs at the state, tribal, local, and territorial levels are eligible to apply for awards. The Implementation Centers work with each participating PHA to define pathways specific to their current data capabilities, capacity, and infrastructure with a long-term strategy to ensure that technical implementation decisions today consider the future technology landscape to maximize resources. The program is funded through November 2027. To express interest in applying for funding, reach out to the program team with the IC contact form.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grants: RWJF supports projects that strengthen public health infrastructure and advance health equity. While many RWJF grants are directed toward 501(c)(3) nonprofits, some funding opportunities are also open to public agencies at the state, tribal, local, and territorial levels. STLTs should review individual grant announcements for specific eligibility criteria. RWJF has supported the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) program, which provides extensive county-level data on health outcomes and determinants, aiding communities in identifying and addressing chronic disease disparities.
Dedicated state funds enable health departments to develop critical infrastructure, such as electronic health record (EHR)-based surveillance tools and chronic disease registries, enhance data quality and accessibility, and integrate surveillance data with Medicaid claims and local health information systems data, ensuring a more connected and effective disease response.
The deBeaumont Foundation: The Foundation’s grants primarily support STLTs through aiming to improve health equity, enhance public health infrastructure, and foster cross-sector partnerships. Grants may support initiatives that enhance the capacity of health departments to implement data modernization initiatives and address chronic disease disparities. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals for defined funding amounts. Instead, it collaborates closely with potential grantees to develop concepts and proposals. Organizations interested in partnering with the Foundation are encouraged to submit an outline of their ideas to info@debeaumont.org. If the concept aligns with the Foundation’s priorities, staff may invite a formal proposal for funding.
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) Action Incubator: The Incubator is a short-term, action-focused opportunity aimed at rapidly enhancing the knowledge, capacity, and leadership of state teams to modernize chronic disease surveillance. The immersive learning experience combines peer networking with up to three other states, expert-led presentations, organizational capacity assessments, reflective planning, and a coach-supported action period that empowers teams to progress on near-term and long-term organization-level goals. Participating states are eligible for funding up to $10,000 to support approved capacity-building activities. Successful teams will consist of 3-6 cross-functional members from the state health department, including at least one individual with expertise in chronic and noncommunicable diseases.
State-level funding offers a complementary and potentially more stable funding resource. Advocating for inclusion in state budgets, collaborating with legislative champions, and aligning with broader state health priorities are key strategies for securing state investment in data modernization. Additionally, many Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), crucial data sharing partners, are housed within state government agencies or receive state funding. Strengthening relationships with HIEs and demonstrating the value of chronic disease surveillance data for informing care delivery and disease prevention can open further opportunities for state-supported collaboration.
Dedicated state funds enable health departments to develop critical infrastructure, such as electronic health record (EHR)-based surveillance tools and chronic disease registries, enhance data quality and accessibility, and integrate surveillance data with Medicaid claims and local health information systems data, ensuring a more connected and effective disease response.
Toolkit Navigation
Foundational Concepts
Understand the core principles, key terminology, and initiatives grounding CSTE’s Chronic Disease Surveillance Data Modernization Strategic Plan
Implementation Actions and Strategies
Learn about the strategies and objectives outlined in CSTE’s Chronic Disease Surveillance Data Modernization Strategic Plan and explore tools for implementation
Implementation Stories
Draw from real-world examples of chronic disease surveillance across a range of jurisdictions with varying levels of experience and resources
Community and Collaboration
Identify and cultivate partnerships with other practitioners working on chronic disease surveillance modernization