Self-assessment is considered to be a major component of learning in public health.1 It provides an opportunity for health professionals to reflect on competency-based strengths and weaknesses in order to identify learning needs and reinforce new skills or behaviors in order to improve performance. The MCH Navigator has been collecting data from our online Self-Assessment for five years and during that time have identified a number of data trends.
With over 12,000 completed assessments in the database, learners have consistently reported high levels of knowledge but low levels of skills across a number of competencies. This translates into MCH professionals having high levels of understanding of a competency but not as much self-efficacy in translating this knowledge into practice. In response to this need, the MCH Navigator has developed a series of implementation briefs that provide specific learning opportunities that focus on how to implement and execute skills associated with the MCH Leadership Competencies. This implementation brief is focused on Competency 8: Honoring Lived Experience.
Honoring lived experience ensures the health and wellbeing of MCH populations through respectful collaboration and shared decision making. Additionally, partnerships with organizations led by people with lived experience honor the strengths, culture, traditions, and expertise that everyone brings to the relationship when engaged in program planning, implementation, evaluation, and policy activities. These partnerships can also help MCH leaders connect with people with lived experience from diverse backgrounds to ensure the perspectives of the communities who receive services are represented.
Historically in the field of MCH, the concept of family-centered care was developed within the community of parents, advocates, and health professionals working with CYSHCN, with the goal that all care is received in family-centered, comprehensive,, coordinated systems. CYSHCN have or are at increased risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. They also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally. The field now recognizes that self-advocates also provide critical insights and perspectives to the successful development of effective policies, practices, and care delivery.
Read more about the PWLE competency and access trainings in support of each sub-competency through our MCH Competency Learning Portal.
The National MCH Workforce Development Center has developed a conceptual model for working with PWLE that focuses on three steps: preparing, asking, and engaging. Dig deeply into our People with Lived Experience Learning Bundle for tips on how to impelent this competency.
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