Establishing a Strategic Foresight Learning and Action Network (SF-LAN) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This article details the establishment and development of strategic foresight (SF) as an intentional organizational capability within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), offering a model and practical insights valuable to other federal agencies. It describes the CDC's adoption of the University of Houston Framework Foresight process, including initial horizon scanning projects, training of staff, and the creation of the Strategic Foresight Learning and Action Network (SF-LAN), a community of practice designed to build capacity and apply foresight methods across public health domains. The article highlights challenges such as resource constraints and cultural barriers in integrating SF into a science-driven agency, while noting early successes in applying foresight to emerging public health issues and ongoing efforts toward institutionalization. This case exemplifies a volunteer-driven, community-based approach to embedding foresight in a large federal organization amid competing priorities like the COVID-19 pandemic.