Financial Planning & Management Skills
Module 7.1: 5-Minute Introduction
In this module we provide background on the competency as well as context and information about our learning activities via a video podcast (see below). We also provide a context for you to Learn more about the competency and to start a conversation, so please Comment on what you have learned and Interact with others who have commented.
LEARN
Financial Planning and Management Skills focus on engaging other government agencies that can address community health needs, leveraging public health and health care funding mechanisms, developing and defending budgets, motivating personnel, evaluating and improving program and organization performance, and establishing and using performance management systems to improve organization performance.
These skills focus on engaging other government agencies that can address community health needs, leveraging public health and health care funding mechanisms, developing and defending budgets, motivating personnel, evaluating and improving program and organization performance, and establishing and using performance management systems to improve organization performance.
It’s probably safe to say that writing budgets and dealing with employees weren’t the main reasons you got into public health. But building your financial and managerial skills can be vital to your career success, as well as the success of your organization’s programs and services.
Several of the competencies in this domain have to do with understanding the public health arena in which your organization operates, particularly which government agencies and public health programs and organizations will influence your work. You also need to know what public health and health care funding mechanisms and procedures are in place. With this information in hand, it’s possible to set priorities for your organization, create budgets, and set staffing levels. These duties fall to Tier 2 and 3 staffers.
Obtaining funding from government agencies, foundations, and other sources is critical. Tier 1 staffers (front line/entry-level) provide information for proposals to these entities, while Tier 2 staffers (program management/ supervisory) prepare the proposals and Tier 3 staffers (senior management/executive-level) approve them.
To achieve your organization’s goals, Tier 2 and 3 staffers are tasked with establishing and motivating teams of personnel that can perform the work that’s needed, and also with creating performance management systems that all three staffing tiers will use.
So what subject areas should a person interested in evaluating and improving their skills within this domain study?
For starters, we suggest Structure, Functions, and Authorities of Public Health Agencies, Organizational Policies and Procedures, and Budget Constraints. You also will want to make sure you understand Public Health Informatics, Contracts and Agreements, and Cost Benefit Analysis.
In addition, you can explore the resourses below to learn more about this competency.
COMMENT
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INTERACT
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Tell us how you have used/integrated this competency into your daily work.
I watched the Introduction to Proposal Writing video. I loved the tips on finding the right fit and tailoring the proposal to the funder.
