INTRODUCTION

The By-Laws of the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing (ASTDN) which is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) describe the purpose and the responsibilities of the officers, the Executive Committee, and the Standing Committees. (See By-laws)

This manual is designed to assemble and compile pertinent additional materials in usable form for the guidance of officers in the operation of the Association.

All old files and records of the Association were consolidated and summarized in the history of the Association published in 1976, which included activities through 1975. An additional ten years of the Association history were published in 1986. The University of Virginia School of Nursing, Center of Nursing Historical Inquiry, is the official repository of all ASTDN documents. The History Committee on an annual basis according to established protocol sends records, picture, and other memorabilia.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the use of the term, “Association”, in this document refers at all times to the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing.

ASTDN

ASTDN began in 1935 as an advisory group of state health department nurses. ASTDN continues today as an active association of public health nursing leaders from across the United States and its Territories. ASTDN is an affiliate of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).

VISION

Foster healthy people living in healthy communities through excellence in public health nursing leadership.

MISSION

Provide a peer and collegial forum for public health nursing leadership, recognizing the authority as well as the responsibility of the governmental role in protecting and promoting the health of the public.

GOALS

1. To participate with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) in promoting a program of national health protection and promotion.
2. To establish guidelines for states and territories in setting standards for public health nursing services.
3. To recommend and advocate the effective and efficient use of public health nurses in the provision of preventive, health promotion and personal health services.
4. To identify and promote methods of improving the education, utilization and distribution of public health nurses.
5. To develop innovative and collaborative partnerships with national governmental and voluntary agencies in programs to protect the public’s health.
6. To foster, advocate for and support public health nurses in leadership roles in administrative, management and staff positions.
7. To assist in marketing public health nursing.
8. To assure that inputs from and perspectives of public health nursing are incorporated into position statements on the nursing profession.

VALUES

The Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing values the following:
A world where health is highly regarded.
Optional pathways for achieving health.
Universal access to health care.
Prevention as the foundation for health promotion.
An epidemiological base for decision-making.
Cultural diversity.
Community empowerment.
Collaboration and partnering.
Excellence in health services.
Leadership as an essential public health skill.

ASSURANCES
ASTDN will comply with all federal statutes relating to non-discrimination and all applicable federal laws, executive orders, regulations and policies as applicable.

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