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Acknowledging your Core Competencies

This tool allows you to share an experience related to something you have done well and/or felt competent doing in your public health practice.

Identify the core competency category and related competency statements associated with your experience, and print off your results to better understand your competency strengths.

This becomes evidence of your strengths and helps identify the competency sets you use most often. Perfect for a portfolio or performance assessment!

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2. Select the categories you feel are associated with this experience:

3. Based on the categories you selected, choose the competencies that are represented in your experience:

PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES

Public Health Sciences icon This category includes key knowledge and critical thinking skills related to the public health sciences: behavioural and social sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental public health, demography, workplace health, and the prevention of chronic diseases, infectious diseases, psychosocial problems and injuries. Competency in this category requires the ability to apply knowledge in practice.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge about the following concepts: the health status of populations, inequities in health, the determinants of health and illness, strategies for health promotion, disease and injury prevention and health protection, as well as the factors that influence the delivery and use of health services.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge about the history, structure and interaction of public health and health care services at local, provincial/ territorial, national, and international levels.
  3. Apply the public health sciences to practice.
  4. Use evidence and research to inform health policies and programs.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to pursue lifelong learning opportunities in the field of public health.

ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS

Assessment and Analysis iconThis category describes the core competencies needed to collect, assess, analyze and apply information (including data, facts, concepts and theories). These competencies are required to make evidence-based decisions, prepare budgets and reports, conduct investigations and make recommendations for policy and program development.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Recognize that a health concern or issue exists.
  2. Identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including community assets and resources.
  3. Collect, store, retrieve and use accurate and appropriate information on public health issues.
  4. Analyze information to determine appropriate implications, uses, gaps and limitations.
  5. Determine the meaning of information, considering the current ethical, political, scientific, socio-cultural and economic contexts.
  6. Recommend specific actions based on the analysis of information.

IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION

Policy and Program Planning, Implemention and Evaluation iconThis category describes the core competencies needed to effectively choose options, and to plan, implement and evaluate policies and/or programs in public health. This includes the management of incidents such as outbreaks and emergencies.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Describe selected policy and program options to address a specific public health issue.
  2. Describe the implications of each option, especially as they apply to the determinants of health and recommend or decide on a course of action.
  3. Develop a plan to implement a course of action taking into account relevant evidence, legislation, emergency planning procedures, regulations and policies.
  4. Implement a policy or program and/or take appropriate action to address a specific public health issue.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to implement effective practice guidelines.
  6. Evaluate an action, policy or program.
  7. Demonstrate an ability to set and follow priorities, and to maximize outcomes based on available resources.
  8. Demonstrate the ability to fulfill functional roles in response to a public health emergency.

PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY

Partnerships, Collaboration and Advocacy icon This category captures the competencies required to influence and work with others to improve the health and well-being of the public through the pursuit of a common goal. Partnership and collaboration optimizes performance through shared resources and responsibilities. Advocacy-speaking, writing or acting in favour of a particular cause, policy or group of people-often aims to reduce inequities in health status or access to health services.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Identify and collaborate with partners in addressing public health issues.
  2. Use skills such as team building, negotiation, conflict management and group facilitation to build partnerships.
  3. Mediate between differing interests in the pursuit of health and well-being, and facilitate the allocation of resources.
  4. Advocate for healthy public policies and services that promote and protect the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS

Diversity and Inclusiveness icon This category identifies the socio-cultural competencies required to interact effectively with diverse individuals, groups and communities. It is the embodiment of attitudes and practices that result in inclusive behaviours, practices, programs and policies.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Recognize how the determinants of health (biological, social, cultural, economic and physical) influence the health and well-being of specific population groups.
  2. Address population diversity when planning, implementing, adapting and evaluating public health programs and policies.
  3. Apply culturally-relevant and appropriate approaches with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, and persons of all ages, genders, health status, sexual orientations and abilities.

COMMUNICATION

Communication icon Communication involves an interchange of ideas, opinions and information. This category addresses numerous dimensions of communication including internal and external exchanges; written, verbal, non-verbal and listening skills; computer literacy; providing appropriate information to different audiences; working with the media and social marketing techniques.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Communicate effectively with individuals, families, groups, communities and colleagues.
  2. Interpret information for professional, non-professional and community audiences.
  3. Mobilize individuals and communities by using appropriate media, community resources and social marketing techniques.
  4. Use current technology to communicate effectively.

LEADERSHIP

Leadership icon This category focuses on leadership competencies that build capacity, improve performance and enhance the quality of the working environment. They also enable organizations and communities to create, communicate and apply shared visions, missions and values.

A public health practitioner is able to:

  1. Describe the mission and priorities of the public health organization where one works, and apply them in practice.
  2. Contribute to developing key values and a shared vision in planning and implementing public health programs and policies in the community.
  3. Utilize public health ethics to manage self, others, information and resources.
  4. Contribute to team and organizational learning in order to advance public health goals.
  5. Contribute to maintaining organizational performance standards.
  6. Demonstrate an ability to build community capacity by sharing knowledge, tools, expertise and experience.

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