The Core Public Health Competencies, Core Competencies, are a professional consensus of required skill sets for public health best practices. The Core Competencies reflect basic skills that various public health professionals should maintain.
Program Overview
The Core Competencies are a set of 10 basic public health service skills. They were developed by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and the Public Health Practice Council. They represent the foundational skills necessary for anyone engaged in public health practice, education and research. The Core Competencies are used to support employee development in public health organizations. Many universities have integrated the Core Competencies into their public health degree program curricula.
Recommended link: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Public Health Degree Programs
Public health organizations use them to better understand employee development needs, improve worker performance, prepare for professional accreditation and enhance the quality of service to the community. The Core Competencies are used by management to assess and identify employee skill and knowledge gaps. Based on this information, they establish training needs, create development training plans, update job descriptions and conduct performance evaluations.
The Three Tiers
The Core Competencies are presented with a framework of professional tiers. Tier one public health employees are entry-level and front line staff. These competencies apply to the day-to-day operations and tasks of public health organizations. These individuals are not in management positions. Their work responsibilities may include customer service, program support, data collection and hands-on fieldwork. For instance, a nurse might work directly with populations to carry out health promotion programs and collect basic health data.
Tier two employees are supervisors or program managers. Their responsibilities may include program development, implementation and evaluation. They supervise, discipline, schedule, evaluate and support staff. They establish and maintain community partnerships. They make policy recommendations and provide technical expertise. They may supervise a community health clinic. Tier three are senior managers and executives who are leaders of public and private public health organizations. They oversee entire programs, facilities and agencies. They establish and maintain strategies, visions, objectives and standards.
The Core Competencies
The core competencies are divided into eight domains that include analytical, assessment, policy development, program planning, communication, cultural competency, community dimensions, public health sciences, financial planning and management skills. The first domain, analytic and assessment skills, identifies the factors of health and illness in individuals and families. This includes comprehensive data systems and organizational assessments. Domain two involve policy development and program planning skills. This involves data validity and collection methodology as well as public health system structures and policies.
Domain three is communication skills, such as the ability to assess the health literacy of the patients and groups. This involves the ability to communicate customized health literacy principles. Domain four involves cultural competency skills needed to effectively understand and leverage social and ethical factors to manage health. It also ensures respect for diversity is integrated into the business culture. Domain five, community dimensions of practice skills, ensures that public health practitioners use an ecological perspective in health practices, planning and thinking.
The Core Public Health Competencies improve the quality and standardization of public health education, training, research and practice.
