CDCynergy

CDCynergy is a multimedia CD-ROM used for planning, managing, and evaluating public health communication programmes. Originally created for use within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the idea of an institution-wide planning model found its way outside of the agency. CDCynergy has been adapted for use by public health professionals on a national, state, and/or local level.

CDCynergy does not assume that communication is the solution to a public health problem. Rather, it guides the user through a process in which they:

• Use research to help describe and determine the causes of the health problem that is to be addressed with an intervention, and to detail the audience segments affected by the problem
• Explore a wide range of possible strategies for the problem
• Systematically select the strategies that may show the most promise to help the audiences
• Understand the role communication can play in planning, implementing, and evaluating selected strategies
• Develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes audience research, pre-testing, production, launch, and evaluation at every stage.

CDC programmes and partners have tailored the CDCynergy Basic Edition, described above (originally released in 2001) to create new editions highlighting how the CDCynergy planning model can be applied to specific health problems and within specific disciplines within public health. These editions also provide custom case examples of possible health communication interventions in a specific problem area. The list of tailored editions continues to grow as public health professionals explore the benefits of targeting case examples, resources, and media files to a specific public health problem area. Professionals interested in a specific tailored edition should contact the CDC programme or partner that produced the tailored edition. Click here for a list of the current tailored editions and contacts.

Click here to access CDCynergy.