Trainings by Core Public Health CompetencyUse this page to find learning opportunities related to specific knowledge and skill sets identified for each of the Core Public Health Competencies. These competencies complement the MCH Leadership Competencies and provide generalized knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors required for public health professionals to succeed in their roles, no matter what level they work in. The competencies are a consensus set of knowledge and skills for the broad practice of public health, defined by the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
The Core Competencies have a long history in supporting workforce efforts in public health practice and academic settings. They were initially developed in 1991 by the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice , a collaborative team of national public health practice-based and academic organizations . The current version was adopted on October 21, 2021.
Data Analytics and Assessment Skills focus on identifying, collecting, and understanding data; employing and evaluating rigorous methods for assessing needs and assets to address community health needs; and using evidence for decision making to improve the health of communities.*
Policy Development and Program Planning Skills focus on developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services; engaging in quality improvement for organizational and community planning; and influencing policies and programs to impact health and well-being for all.*
Communication Skills focus on employing effective communications strategies to convey information and combat misinformation and disinformation; assessing and addressing population literacy, language, and culture; soliciting and using community input; identifying opportunities to communicate data and information; communicating the roles of government, healthcare, and others; facilitating communications; and building trust with communities.*
Health Outcomes Skills focus on recognizing and responding to quality of the workforce and populations served; applying principles of ethics to policies and programs; committing to continuous self-reflection; re-evaluating organizational policies; and advocating to reduce barriers that further health issues.*
Community Partnership Skills focus on understanding and developing relationships within the community; advancing collaboration while ensuring community power and ownership; defending public health policies, programs, and services; and evaluating effectiveness to improve community health and resilience.*
Public Health Sciences Skills focus on using and contributing to the evidence base; understanding historical systems, policies, and events impacting public health; applying public health sciences to deliver the 10 Essential Public Health Services; critiquing and developing research; using evidence when developing policies and programs; and establishing cross-sector partnerships to improve the public’s health.*
Management and Finance Skills focus on securing, managing, and engaging human and financial resources; supporting professional development and contingency planning to achieve program and organizational goals using principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; developing and defending budgets; motivating personnel; evaluating and improving program and organization performance; and establishing and using performance management systems to improve organization performance.*
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills focus on understanding and engaging with cross-sector partners and inter-related systems; creating opportunities for collaboration among public health, healthcare, and other organizations to improve the health of communities; building confidence and trust with staff, partners, and the public; identifying emerging needs; and developing a shared vision to engage with politicians, policymakers, and public health to advocate for the role of governmental public health.*