Strategic Health Advisers (SHA) was selected as one of four organizations in the State of New Jersey to implement the CDC Strike Team and Project Firstline grants, beginning our contract at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this implementation, SHA took the lead in educating hundreds of New Jersey public health professionals and LTC staff with actionable, science-based guidance on

• Advanced Infection Control Standards: Implementing the latest CDC-backed protocols.
• Environmental Cleaning & Disinfection: Mastering the techniques that stop outbreaks before they start.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Optimization: Ensuring staff safety through proper usage and fit.

Rather than providing a one-time seminar, we developed a “Train the Trainer” program that equipped local health departments (LHDs) with the specialized tools, curriculum, and confidence needed to become experts themselves. This allowed LHDs to go into Long-Term Care (LTC) and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) in their jurisdictions to provide hands-on training.

By creating this "force multiplier" effect, SHA ensured that:

1. Compliance is Local: Facilities receive guidance from the local officials they work with every day.
2. Standards are Consistent: Every LTC and skilled nursing facility operates under the same high-level infection control umbrella.
3. Knowledge is Permanent: The expertise stays within the state's infrastructure long after the initial training ends.

SHA continues to provide these critical services today, remaining at the forefront of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and helping healthcare facilities and government agencies transition from emergency response to long-term, sustainable health safety.