At a glance
2024 was a year of significant progress for CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP). Read about some of our accomplishments and the impact they’re having on our country’s health.
Overview
As we look back on 2024, it’s my pleasure to recognize just a few of our exceptional accomplishments. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to preventing chronic diseases, addressing health disparities, and improving the health and well-being of communities across the country.
Tackling Maternal Mortality by Turning Data into Action
More than 80% of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, underscoring the urgency of addressing maternal mortality head-on, and that’s exactly what NCCDPHP is doing.
In 2024, CDC committed $118 to the ERASE Maternal Mortality program, empowering maternal mortality review committees (MMRCs) in 46 states and 6 territories across the nation. These committees collect data and review individual cases of maternal mortality to identify areas of systems improvement. Already, we’re seeing results. For instance:
- Georgia hemorrhage monitoring program is helping hospitals detect and respond to postpartum bleeding faster, preventing unnecessary deaths.
- Tennessee substance use screening program is expanding access to care for pregnant women facing substance use challenges, improving outcomes for both parents and babies.
This integral work is preventing deaths and building systems that protect mothers and families. Through these investments and collaborations, we’re creating a future where preventable maternal deaths no longer occur.
Improving Youth Mental Health Through Schools
In 2024, CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) became the 9th division in our Center unifying adolescent and school health efforts. The division made big strides this year to address youth mental health. In 2024, DASH’s newly released School Mental Health Action Guide was downloaded over 14,000 times.
Additionally, our premier adolescent health survey, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) survey data demonstrated a downward trend in adolescents reporting sadness, highlighting the importance of targeted school-based health efforts.
Addressing Maternal Hypertension, A Leading Cause of Black Maternal Deaths
Through maternal mortality review committees, we learned that nearly half of preventable maternal deaths are linked to heart disease and hypertension. In response, CDC's Million Hearts® Initiative collaborated with clinical organizations to develop the Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package.
This resource equips outpatient care teams with strategies to improve the diagnosis and management of hypertension during and after pregnancy. Within just six months of its release, more than 200 clinicians and numerous health systems began implementing its strategies to improve outcomes for pregnant women nationwide.
New Interactive Maps to Address Social Needs and Chronic Disease Locally
In 2024, we released new Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data faster than ever before. The self-reported behaviors are important for monitoring chronic disease at the state level and across the U.S. For the first time, BRFSS data included information on social needs, like access to healthy foods, housing stability, and transportation. This timely release of data helps all 50 states to evaluate public health needs and programs, often serving as the only statewide source of data on adult health and risk behaviors.
Making it local
In August 2024, CDC released the PLACES (or Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates) data, allowing individual, clinicians, and policymakers to explore BRFSS information at the local level through the interactive website, maps, and visualizations. Using this data, CDC published multiple papers exploring social needs, including mammography access and racial and ethnic disparities, related to chronic disease and health outcomes, empowering communities to take informed action.
Reducing Youth Tobacco Use: Major Declines in Youth Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use
In November 2024, the 35th Report of the Surgeon General on tobacco was released, focusing on tobacco-related disparities. Developed with support from the Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), the report is a reflection of the collaboration of hundreds of scientists within and outside CDC.
Evidence from the report is already informing decisionmakers, including action to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in states and communities. This progress coincides with significant declines in youth tobacco use: cigarette use reached the lowest level ever at 1.4%, and e-cigarette use dropped to 5.9% - the lowest in a decade.
Investing in Tribal Communities to Reduce Chronic Disease
In 2024, CDC's Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) program awarded almost $21 million to 28 tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. These grants support culturally responsive, community-driven, evidence-based strategies to reduce chronic diseases and their risk factors.
This funding has reached over 375,000 American Indian and Alaska Native community members with programming focused on smoking cessation, improved nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding support, and heart disease and stroke prevention.