CDC – NIIW Champion Award State Guidelines – National infant Immunization Week - Vaccines

CDC – NIIW Champion Award State Guidelines – National infant Immunization Week - Vaccines

Award Guidelines for States

The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award

On this Page

• Criteria
• Eligibility
• Nomination Process
• Selection Process Guidance
• Promotion
• Recognition of Awardees

Each state immunization program will nominate one individual to receive the CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award based on award criteria. There will be up to one Champion for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Award Criteria

A CDC Childhood Immunization Champion is an individual who meets one or more of the following criteria: 

• Has provided community leadership on immunization rates among infants and young children
• Has used creative and/or innovative strategies to promote infant and young child immunization and meet unique immunization challenges within their community, state or region, for example, including reaching hard-to-reach or under-immunized populations
• Has been a visible immunization champion for infants and young children in a community and/or medical system by acting as a spokesperson, advocate, and/or educator
• Has been an advocate for immunization policy advancements

Eligibility

Key Dates

• February 10, 2012
  Nominations due to State Program Managers
• March 9, 2012
  State award nominations due to CDC
• April 21 – 28, 2012
  Champions announced

Champions can include health care professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, etc.), coalition members, parents, and other immunization leaders who meet the award criteria. State immunization program managers, state and federal government employees (including contractors), and individuals affiliated with and/or employed by pharmaceutical companies are not eligible to apply.

Nomination Process

The nomination packet  [780 KB, 9 pages] is available as a “fillable” PDF.
Also available is this checklist  [110 KB, 1 page]. The upper half provides steps for individuals submitting nominations to state immunization programs.
Immunization program managers are encouraged to distribute the award information and promote the award in their state (e.g., post it to their immunization program web site, include in newsletters, attach to an email blast). CDC will also distribute the nomination packet through national partners. Immunization Program managers may also post and share the web button, which links to Childhood Immunization Champions web site.

Promote Champions

Place this web button on your site

Nominations should be submitted directly to the state immunization program manager or designee. A complete list of contact information for all 50 state immunization programs is included within the nomination packet. The deadline for nomination submissions to state immunization programs is February 10, 2012.

Selection Process Guidance

State Immunization program managers are responsible for assembling a review committee to evaluate nominees and recommend one individual to be the Childhood Immunization Champion for their state. CDC will review and confirm states’ recommendations and issue awards.
CDC recommends that immunization program managers involve the following representatives in the review and selection process, as applicable:

• State immunization program senior management
• Local and/or state immunization coalitions and health departments
• Immunization program managers from CDC-funded cities (Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Houston, and New York)
• Indian Health Service staff
• HHS regional staff

This scoring sheet  [354 KB, 3 pages] is available to assist review committees in their selection process.
Steps for state immunization programs submitting selected Champion to CDC are listed in lower half of this checklist  [110 KB, 1 page].
State program managers must notify CDC of their nomination via an email to imzchamps@cdc.gov by March 9, 2012.
CDC will certify all nominations and distribute awards.

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Promotion

Ready to solicit nominations and promote the award program? These materials may help:

• Who is a CDC Childhood Immunization Champion? (flyer) New JAN 2012
  • Customizable  [145 KB, 1 page]
  • Generic  [139 KB, 1 page]
  • Generic Word  [1.4 MB, 1 page]
• Sample Facebook and Twitter posts  [124 KB, 1 page] New JAN 2012
• Sample email message  [121 KB, 1 page] New JAN 2012
• Sample content for a newsletter  [146 KB, 1 page] New JAN 2012
• “Champion Award” logo [JPG 310 KB, 300 DPI, 8" x 3"]
• Web button - place graphic on your site with link to nomination packet

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CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award Presentation & Recognition

Awards will be announced in conjunction with National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28, 2012.
Awardees will be mailed/presented a CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award certificate. Additionally, the Champions will be highlighted in a national press release, featured on CDC’s NIIW web site, and may be recognized at events and conferences throughout the year. States are also encouraged to highlight their Champion at their state and local NIIW events. CDC will also provide states with a draft news release that can be tailored to highlight their Champion locally and throughout the state.