Congenital syphilis cases in California have skyrocketed, with a complicated interplay of factors including substance use, homelessness, and gender-based violence underlying increasing numbers. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has made concerted efforts to contain and manage congenital syphilis in the city through a series of strategies conceived during an emergency activation in 2019. SFDPH is now slated to refocus on congenital syphilis prevention and control after the COVID-19 pandemic diverted funds and personnel from other public health efforts.
Facente Consulting was contracted to facilitate a strategic planning process around the next steps for congenital syphilis prevention and control in San Francisco for the next three years. We talked with internal and external stakeholders to develop a landscape analysis, then led a planning group through a series of discussions to determine the strategic priorities for SFDPH’s efforts. The final product was a completed strategic plan to guide the work of congenital syphilis prevention and control.