Overview
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) was established
in the 1950s. Alexander Langmuir,
CDC’s first Epidemiology Division Director, recognized the importance
of state input in decision making, and asked the Association of State
and Territorial Health Officers (ASTHO) to convene the State Epidemiologists
and charge them with the responsibility of deciding what diseases
should be reported nationally. CSTE
has held that responsibility throughout the years.
Since
this auspicious, if focused beginning, CSTE has grown
into an international organization for state-based
and other epidemiologists across disciplines and disease
categories. The organization includes two types of members. Active
members -- identified as epidemiologists working in
state, territorial or local health departments – and
associate members -- epidemiologists working in federal
health agencies or academia.
CSTE
gets support from its members and outside resources. With
this support, members have the opportunity to provide
consultation to other agencies in their area of specialty,
and are often called upon to lend perspective to policy
decisions with national surveillance importance. CSTE also manages special projects, (i.e., capacity building
in chronic disease epidemiology) identified by the
CSTE Executive Committee. CSTE
determines the special projects are beneficial to states,
and employs trained epidemiologists and other public
health professionals to staff them.
CSTE
recognizes the importance of shaping growth through
strategic planning. The
planning process began in 1998.
Vision
Statement
The
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists is committed
to improving the public’s health by supporting the efforts
of epidemiologists working at the state and local level
to influence public health programs and policy based
on science and data
Mission
Statement
CSTE
promotes the effective use of epidemiologic data to guide
public health practice and improve health. CSTE accomplishes this by supporting the use of effective public
health surveillance and good epidemiologic practice through
training, capacity development, and peer consultation,
developing standards for practice, and advocating for
resources and scientifically based policy.
Address
CSTE National Headquarters
2872 Woodcock Boulevard
Suite 303
Atlanta, GA 30341
P: 770-458-3811
F: 770-458-8516
Website: http://www.cste.org/
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