Ministry of Health
For Healthcare Professionals
What Do Public Health Professionals Do?
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (PHAC, 2008)
Identification of core competencies was one of the building blocks of the
Federal/Provincial/Territorial framework on public health capacity building. Core competencies are the essential values, attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary for the practice of public health for front line public health providers, consultants/specialists and managers/supervisors. The following highlight some of the core competencies under seven categories:
Public Health Sciences – a public health practitioner is able to demonstrate knowledge about the health status of populations, inequities in health, and determinants of health and illness. For example, front line public health providers are able to discuss the need for prenatal nutrition programs in an Aboriginal community as well as contributing factors such as income, education, culture and traditional foods.
Assessment and Analysis – a public health practitioner is able to recognize when there is a health concern or issue, identify relevant sources of information, and determine appropriate implications, uses, gaps and limitations of information. In B.C., public health specialists collect data via the BCCDC on an ongoing basis for provincial and national notifiable diseases. When there are higher than expected activities of these conditions, local and provincial efforts take place to identify the cause of the increase in order to effectively manage the outbreak.
Policy and Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation – a public health practitioner is able to describe policy and program options to address a specific public health issue, describe the legislative and fiscal implications of each option, and develop a plan to implement a course of action. For example, front line public health providers may identify increased rates of sexually transmitted infections among youth, identify potential school interventions that may range from healthy sexuality education programs to a school-based HPV vaccine program, consider evidence of these interventions and how the interventions may affect different regions in the province, and whether there is available resources and pursue the most appropriate action.
Partnerships, Collaboration and Advocacy – a public health practitioner is able to identify and collaborate with partners in addressing public health issues. For example, the Provincial Health Officer seeks the advice and inputs from policymakers, local communities, and public health organizations in order to make recommendations to improve the quality of British Columbia’s drinking water.
Diversity and Inclusiveness – a public health practitioner is able to recognize and address population diversity when planning, implementing, adapting and evaluating public health programs and policies. For example, B.C.’s 10-year Tripartite First Nations Health Plan was developed from the consideration of the unique health challenges and longstanding health inequalities of this population. The 20-plus action items were designed to create fundamental changes for the improvement of the health status of First Nations people in B.C.
Communication – a public health practitioner is able to communicate and mobilize individuals and communities by using appropriate media, community resources, current technologies and social marketing techniques. For example, a hepatitis outbreak in a youth hostel prompted front line public health providers to use community newspapers, local television, and social networking websites to target and notify the young travellers that may be at risk.
Leadership – a public health practitioner contributes to developing key values and a shared vision in planning and implementing public health programs and policies in the community. Each year, the Provincial Health Officer reports on British Columbians’ health status, on the need for policies and programs, and recommendations for individuals and organizations to improve their health.
Reference
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2008, 04 03). Public Health Competency. Retrieved 02 10, 2010, from Public Health Agency of Canada: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ccph-cesp/links-liens-eng.php.
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