The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) thanks the public health community for participating in its review of the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) and providing feedback that will help shape the future of the public health workforce. More than 350 people, including practitioners, educators, and researchers in governmental public health, academia, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, engaged in the feedback process and provided over 1,000 comments on the Core Competencies. Feedback received is guiding revision of the Core Competencies to ensure these competencies continue to meet workforce needs.

Feedback on the Core Competencies was collected throughout 2013, from the Council on Linkages’ decision in March to begin reviewing the Core Competencies until the end of December, and includes a variety of suggestions, such as:

• Simplify some of the language of individual competencies
• Keep the eight domains
• Create an additional tier for administrative and support staff
• Ensure that the Communication Skills domain addresses clear and culturally and linguistically appropriate communication
• Consider adding competencies to address topics such as budget preparation, health informatics, social marketing, and health reform
• Crosswalk the Core Competencies with the Foundational Capabilities listed in the Institute of Medicine report, For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future, and the Trust for America’s Health report, A Healthier America 2013: Strategies to Move from Sick Care to Health Care in Four Years; the Public Health Accreditation Board’s Standards and Measures; and the Essential Public Health Services

Additional comments focus on resources the Council on Linkages can provide to help organizations use the Core Competencies, including:

• More examples of what is meant by each competency
• Guidance on how competencies apply to various positions within public health organizations
• Additional sample job descriptions that incorporate the Core Competencies
• New examples that show use or attainment of the Core Competencies

The number and thoughtfulness of the comments received, as well as the level of interest in the review and revision process, has reinforced for the Council on Linkages the importance and use of the Core Competencies by the public health community.

In the coming months, the Council on Linkages will work to revise the Core Competencies. The Council on Linkages has committed to adopting and making available the revised Core Competencies by June 30, 2014.

To stay informed during the Core Competencies revision process, subscribe to the Council on Linkages Update or follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #phcompetencies. For more information, contact please Cheryl DeAguiar at cdeaguiar@phf.org.