Public health officials in Forsyth County, North Carolina, are seeking to stem the rise of syphilis cases in its jurisdiction—which has already tripled the total of just last year—by canvassing neighborhoods and asking people to get tested for syphilis and HIV in exchange for a $10 Wal-Mart gift card. Experts theorize that the difficult economy has motivated more people to engage in risky behavior, like selling sex for money or drugs, which can lead to the spread of the disease. Preventative tools, such as using gift cards to lure the public into getting tested, combined with surveillance measures and education campaigns are often less expensive than emergency room visits, longer hospitalizations, and decreased worker productivity later on.

Colorado has found that a two-year old mental health program, which provides medication and monitors inmates being released from prison or those who violate parole, significantly reduces recidivsim among its participants. Over 200 inmates have participated in the program, and the drop in recidivism has been substantial. Of the mentally ill inmates sent to community corrections facilities, only 3 percent violated rules or committed new crimes and were returned to prison during the program’s first two years—compared to 56 percent the year prior.

At least 29 states and a several cities are placing mental health therapists in preschools and child-care centers on a part-time or temporary basis. While some are concerned that the therapists may over-interpret innocent childhood quirks, supporters backed by a growing body of research argue that they will help identify behavioral problems and develop targeted solutions that not only benefit the student, but the entire classroom.

After becoming the first state to provide laptops to every public school seventh- and eighth-grader, Maine is expanding its initiative, promising laptops to every high school student within the next two years. Under the state’s agreement with Apple Inc.—a four-year, $64 million lease—the company will provide each student with a MacBook, along with wireless routers, tech support, and warranty repairs, at a cost of $240 per year per computer. Students can take their computers home but must return them by the end of the school year.

In New York, HHS-Connect is integrating social services data across agencies so that those city workers and authorized nonprofits tasked with delivering and managing services for the elderly, homeless, and children can access medical, financial, and housing information for their clients. The initiative aims ultimately to get organizations, not just data, working together to address complex problems holistically.

Eight states are using a program that pays those who are jobless while training them to be entrepreneurs. The program selects applicants likely to exhaust their benefits before gaining a new job. Once approved, participants must develop a business plan and attend counseling and training sessions. Some business groups have criticized the program, charging that the taxes employers pay to provide unemployment insurance are being used to finance potential competitors.

Social media continues to transform the government’s work. Criminologists have noted the use of YouTube to post videos of crimes in order to get people interested in helping to catch the perpetrators. The Internal Revenue Service has launched video and audio podcasts to provide information about upcoming tax credits, how-to videos for filling out forms, and other tax tips.

Boston disease trackers are reapplying technology, which was originally developed to track victims of mass disasters, to create a citywide flu vaccination registry. Such a registry would produce a map that will enable rapid intervention in vulnerable neighborhoods. Each immunized participant gets a bracelet printed with a unique identifier code, after which some basic information like their name, age, and address will be entered into a database. Infectious disease specialists predict that this approach would be especially effective for more dangerous epidemics.

Seven states are piloting a curriculum designed provide a comprehensive understanding of the events of September 11th, 2001, to students who may have been too young at the time to even remember them. This curriculum was developed by the Sept. 11 Education Trust and is taught through videos, lessons, and interactive exercises using primary sources and archival footage. It also gives teachers the flexibility to tailor the lessons to their classrooms.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has partnered with private industries and conservation groups to launch Whale SENSE, a voluntary program that motivates whale-watch tour operators to search for and observe whales in a responsible manner. The program will recognize good practices and requires annual training on safe navigation and whale ecology.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has created a "green" demonstration campsite at the Ohiopyle State Park so that campers can learn how to leave the lightest environmental footprint. Besides employing recycled and reused equipment, the program also aims to modify outdoor behavior through the promotion of "leave no trace" camping, which includes tips for traveling across and camping on durable surfaces, proper waste disposal, and minimal campfire impact.