The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages) recently began the process of reviewing and revising the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) and is seeking your guidance. What changes would help the Core Competencies better meet your needs? What knowledge and skills do public health professionals need now and moving forward? How can the Core Competencies better address new and emerging needs of public health practice? What would make the Core Competencies easier to use?

 

The Core Competencies describe foundational or crosscutting skills for professionals working in the field of public health. As the field changes, the Core Competencies are reviewed and revised to ensure these competencies continue to reflect the reality of public health and meet the needs of the workforce.

 

The current version of the Core Competencies was adopted by the Council on Linkages in 2014. These competencies are widely used by health departments and academic institutions to guide education, training, and other workforce development activities; are addressed in Healthy People 2030 objectives; and are referenced by the Public Health Accreditation Board in the Standards and Measures for health department accreditation. As illustrated by the revision of the 10 Essential Public Health Services; move toward Public Health 3.0; increasing emphasis on social determinants of health and health equity; and needs for effective preparedness, response, and recovery highlighted by COVID-19, the roles and functions of public health professionals continue to evolve. To ensure that the Core Competencies keep pace with these changes, the Council on Linkages is revising the Core Competencies.

 

Feedback from public health practitioners, educators, researchers, governing bodies, volunteers, students, and others is critical to guide this revision. Hearing about the knowledge and skills needed for working in public health now and into the future, current uses of the Core Competencies, challenges to using the Core Competencies, and resources and tools that would make the Core Competencies easier to use will help the Council on Linkages determine what changes to make as it revises the Core Competencies.

 

Feedback on the Core Competencies can be shared in many ways, including:

Feedback is welcome through February 28, 2021. Share yours and help shape the future of the public health workforce.

 

Questions? Please visit the Core Competencies revision process webpage or email me at kamos@phf.org for more information.

January 14, 2021 Update: The open comment period has been extended through February 28, 2021.​​​