C. William Keck, MD, MPH, Chair, Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice
The most recent version of the
Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) was adopted by the
Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) in 2010. These competencies are widely used by health departments and academic institutions to guide workforce development activities, education, and training; are addressed in three
Healthy People 2020 objectives; and are referenced by the Public Health Accreditation Board in Domain 8 of its
Standards and Measures. With implementation of the Affordable Care Act, decreases in health department budgets and workforce, and the increasing need for greater coordination of public health and healthcare services, the roles and functions of public health professionals are changing. To ensure that the Core Competencies continue to meet the needs of the public health workforce, the Council on Linkages is exploring the possibility of revising the Core Competencies in consideration of the many changes occurring within public health practice.
As part of this exploration, the Council on Linkages is seeking guidance from the public health community. Should the Core Competencies be revised to address new and emerging needs of public health practice? If the Core Competencies are revised, what changes should be made to increase their use and usefulness for the public health workforce? What else should we be considering?
At its
March 27, 2013 meeting, the Council on Linkages voted to initiate the process of revising the Core Competencies. Your input and ideas throughout this process will help the Council on Linkages determine whether or not revisions are needed.
Thank you for your comments. Hearing and learning from the broad public health community will guide us in ongoing efforts of the Council on Linkages to support our outstanding public health workforce!
* * *
Please share with us your thoughts and opinions on this and other hot public health topics by posting and subscribing to comments throughout PHF’s website.
The PHF Pulse Blog welcomes conversations and commentary from contributors. Posts may not necessarily reflect the views of Public Health Foundation.