Governance

To promote transparency and equal representation by grantees and stakeholders, BIDS convenes a steering group that meets two to three times a year. The steering group is comprised of members from each border state, one representative from participating CDC centers (National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Center for Global Health, and National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention), and one representative from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). Participation from Mexico is encouraged to promote binational cooperation.

The role of the steering group is to:

• Provide scientific direction and guidance on priorities for allocation of resources;
• Review and approve proposed projects;
• Monitor the quality of surveillance and assure mutual accountability between CDC and surveillance sites;
• Provide updates on site activities and vote on key issues;
• Ensure effective communication with stakeholders;
• Advocate for binational projects;
• Provide an equitable process for resolving issues; and
• Represent BIDS in CDC’s Emerging Infections initiatives.