FCPH One of 15 Awarded a National Grant for Disease Forecasting and Analytics
When diseases strike, it’s important to let our residents know what’s happening, and what could be on the horizon. That’s why Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) is learning about new and innovative ways to keep our communities safe!
In 2024, FCPH was one of 15 local health departments (LHDs) awarded the National Association of County Health Officials (NACCHO) Disease Forecasting and Analytics grant. Managed by NACCHO and in partnership with Cornell University, the grant focused on building and strengthening forecasting and analytic capabilities to help FCPH track and predict disease statuses and outcomes. The grant lasted 10 months and was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
“I am very impressed with the participating LHDs, including Franklin County Public Health. Disease forecasting is a relatively new endeavor for public health agencies, especially those at the local level, and it is great to see FCPH and the other participating LHDs dive right into the work,” said Meghan Shea, NACCHO Senior Program Analyst- Informatics. “They have been dedicated, curious, flexible, collegial, and always willing to learn and share with their peers at other LHDs. I can already see the value in the peer network this project created, and I look forward to seeing it grow and evolve in the future.”
Disease forecasting is the process of collecting data and analytics of new, current, or impending diseases and epidemics. Public health officials use the collected information to predict the characteristics and the course of a disease or an epidemic, and how it will impact our community. The more accurate these data are, the timelier and better our response to the disease will be. When possible, control measures can be applied to prevent disease outbreaks from even occurring and reducing the impact on our communities.
These data not only help us to be better prepared, but also allows us to take steps to protect our residents and possibly save lives. We aim to prevent or reduce the number of people who get sick, and to save resources for those who are currently in need of medical care.
“It’s been incredibly beneficial to be part of this grant,” said Infectious Disease Program Epidemiologist and Supervisor Radhika Iyer. “The knowledge and information we’ve gained will potentially enhance some of our existing surveillance functions.”
“This project is important to the world of public health because it is helping local health professionals build the infrastructure they need for data-informed decision-making about respiratory diseases,” Shea added. “With access to timelier and better-quality data, local level decision-makers, will be better equipped to implement policies and programs to protect the health of their specific communities.”
With direction from the famed Cornell University, FCPH is strategizing how to incorporate modeling and forecasting into our disease tracking functions.
“Coordination and collaboration are critical to effective management of any disease outbreak or disaster response,” said Dr. Danielle Eiseman, Health Impacts Partnership Lead from the Department of Public and Ecosystems Health at Cornell University. “This grant has provided a space for 15 unique health departments to come together and learn in a way that is not always feasible in day-to-day public health work. To me, making those connections and sharing experiences has been the most valuable component of this grant.”
Iyer agreed that modeling forecasting is valuable, especially given the potential positives that can come out of the data.
“Really what this comes down to is the impact on our residents,” Iyer said. “It’s about doing everything we can to have the best data and information to inform their choices and help them live a healthy life.”