A Community-Driven Approach to Eliminating Congenital Syphilis: Lessons Learned from New York State's Congenital Syphilis Elimination Strategic Planning Group

ABSTRACT: In 2023, the Congenital Syphilis Elimination Strategic Planning Group was convened by the New York State Department of Health and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as a community-led strategic planning process to develop a statewide elimination framework following a 410% increase in congenital syphilis cases from 2012 to 2022. Forty-three representatives from public health, healthcare, community organizations, and academia participated. Organized into 7 subcommittees and guided by a Steering Committee grounded in health equity and trauma-informed engagement, the group met over 13 months to identify actionable strategies. Using a structured prioritization process, members produced 6 prioritized and 18 general recommendations for implementation, linked to community collaborators. Strengths included rapid mobilization, inclusive leadership, and integration of community and public health expertise, whereas challenges involved gaps in statewide representation and the absence of a metrics committee. This initiative demonstrates a feasible, replicable model for equity-centered public health planning through authentic community partnership.