Competency Assessment Tier1 2014 Pre

Competency Assessment
Tier 1 Public Health Professionals

2014 Version
Adapted by the Public Health Foundation from an assessment developed by Janet Place, MPH,
University of North Carolina (now at the University of South Carolina). Provided by the Council
on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice. May be modified as needed.
Technical Note: This assessment was designed for use with Adobe Acrobat/Reader. Scoring
and other functions may not operate properly in other PDF viewers. To use the assessment,
download and save this PDF form before entering your scores.
Competency Assessment for Tier 1 Public Health Professionals1
2014 Version
Introduction
The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals (Core Competencies) are a consensus
set of foundational skills for the broad practice of public health, as defined by the 10 Essential
Public Health Services. The Core Competencies are organized into eight skill areas or domains
that cut across public health disciplines. The purpose of this assessment is to help you explore
your level of competence within these eight domains.
A competency is any knowledge or skill of an individual or organization that has been shown
to cause or predict outstanding performance. A collection of competencies makes up a
behavioral roadmap that is directly related to both individual and organizational performance.
By assessing your level of knowledge or skill for each competency statement described, you
will be able to prioritize your learning time to focus on those areas that are most important to
you and to concentrate where the need for training and learning may be greatest.
How to Complete This Competency Assessment
The competency assessment should take about 20 minutes to complete. It is divided into the
following eight domains:
• Analytical/Assessment Skills
• Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
• Communication Skills
• Cultural Competency Skills
• Community Dimensions of Practice Skills
• Public Health Sciences Skills
• Financial Planning and Management Skills
• Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
1) Read each competency statement listed within a domain.
2) In each domain, and for each competency statement, think about the level at which you are
currently able to perform the skill. Then rate your level of proficiency on each competency
statement by selecting the number on the continuum from “None” (1) to “Proficient” (4) that
best describes your self-reported level of expertise for that statement. Note: The
competency statements listed in each domain should be interpreted as broadly as possible
to apply to your position and principal setting of employment. In the example below, you
would select number “4” for “Proficient” if you think you are excelling at this competency or
select “1” for “None” if you feel you need a great deal of improvement.
1
Tier 1 – Front Line Staff/Entry Level: Tier 1 competencies apply to public health professionals who
carry out the day-to-day tasks of public health organizations and are not in management positions.
Responsibilities of these professionals may include data collection and analysis, fieldwork, program
planning, outreach, communications, customer service, and program support.
1
Example:
To what degree are you able to effectively…describe factors affecting the health of a
community (e.g., equity, income, education, environment)?
1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill
2 = Aware I have heard of, but have limited knowledge or ability to apply the skill
3 = Knowledgeable I am comfortable with my knowledge or ability to apply the skill
4 = Proficient I am very comfortable, am an expert, or could teach this skill to others
3) At the end of each domain there is a place to write any comments you have. For example, if
you feel like an expert but may still want training or learning opportunities in a particular skill,
please enter your comments in the comments section. You may also want to share this
assessment with your supervisor, colleagues, or others and ask them to add comments as
well. These comments may be helpful to you and your supervisor in planning for your
professional development.
4) After you have entered your responses for each domain, the sum of your scores will appear
in the column next to “Total Score.” Your average score will also appear in the column next
to “Average Total” and in the corresponding row of the “Your Results” section at the end of
the competency assessment.
5) Review your results and follow the guidance offered in the “Interpreting Your Results” section
to determine your next steps.
2
Analytical/Assessment Skills

To what degree are you able to effectively…
1 Describe factors affecting the health of a community (e.g., equity,

income, education, environment)
2
2 Identify quantitative and qualitative data and information (e.g., vital

statistics, electronic health records, transportation patterns,
unemployment rates, community input, health equity impact
1
assessments) that can be used for assessing the health of a community
3 Apply ethical principles in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using,

maintaining, and disseminating data and information
3
4 Use information technology in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using,

2
maintaining, and disseminating data and information
5 Select valid and reliable data 2
6 Select comparable data (e.g., data being age-adjusted to the same year,
3
data variables across datasets having similar definitions)
7 Identify gaps in data 4
8 Collect valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative data 2
9 Describe public health applications of quantitative and qualitative data 3
10 Use quantitative and qualitative data 3
11 Describe assets and resources that can be used for improving the health
of a community (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, public libraries, hospitals, faith- 2
based organizations, academic institutions, federal grants, fellowship
programs)
12 Contribute to assessments of community health status and factors

influencing health in a community (e.g., quality, availability, accessibility, 2
and use of health services; access to affordable housing)
13 Explain how community health assessments use information about

3
health status, factors influencing health, and assets and resources
14 Describe how evidence (e.g., data, findings reported in peer-reviewed

3
literature) is used in decision making
3
Total Score (Add all scores and enter total here) 35.0
Average Total (Divide the “Total Score” by 14 and enter the result here
2.5
and into the corresponding row of the “Your Results” section)
Comments:
I took a class last year on design and analysis that was very helpful for me in
understanding the basics of data collection and analization. I feel pretty confident in my
ability to sort through information and find the important parts. I am also able to make
ethical considerations about the data collection and analization since we spent a lot of
time in class taking about this topic. Were I lack knowledge is in how to make
assessments that accuretly describe the population and how to take the data collected
and make it relevant to the community.
4
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

1 Contribute to state/Tribal/community health improvement planning (e.g.,

providing data to supplement community health assessments, 1
communicating observations from work in the field)
2 Contribute to development of program goals and objectives 2
3 Describe organizational strategic plan (e.g., includes measurable

objectives and targets; relationship to community health improvement
2
plan, workforce development plan, quality improvement plan, and other
plans)
4 Contribute to implementation of organizational strategic plan 3
5 Identify current trends (e.g., health, fiscal, social, political, environmental)

2
affecting the health of a community
6 Gather information that can inform options for policies, programs, and
services (e.g., secondhand smoking policies, data use policies, HR 3
policies, immunization programs, food safety programs)
7 Describe implications of policies, programs, and services 2
8 Implement policies, programs, and services 2
9 Explain the importance of evaluations for improving policies, programs,

3
and services
10 Gather information for evaluating policies, programs, and services (e.g.,

3
outputs, outcomes, processes, procedures, return on investment)
11 Apply strategies for continuous quality improvement 2
12 Describe how public health informatics is used in developing,

implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services 3
(e.g., integrated data systems, electronic reporting, knowledge
management systems, geographic information systems)
Average Total (Divide the “Total Score” by 12 and enter the result here 2.3
5
Comments:
I have very limited experinces with policy development and program planning. The
experince that I do have comes from learning about how to create a foodservice
operation from a management class I took last year. So, I feel slightly more comfortable
about how to set up a organizational strategic plan when compared to subcompetencies
such as implementing and improving polices, procedures, and servies. This is an area I
have no experince in. I am hoping that doing my community nutrition rotation this fall will
help me in this area.
6
Communication Skills

1 Identify the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, 2

and use health and other information; social media literacy)
2 Communicate in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency

(e.g., using age-appropriate materials, incorporating images) 3
3 Solicit input from individuals and organizations (e.g., chambers of

commerce, religious organizations, schools, social service organizations,
2
hospitals, government, community-based organizations, various
populations served) for improving the health of a community
4 Suggest approaches for disseminating public health data and information

(e.g., social media, newspapers, newsletters, journals, town hall 2
meetings, libraries, neighborhood gatherings)
5 Convey data and information to professionals and the public using a

variety of approaches (e.g., reports, presentations, email, letters) 2
6 Communicate information to influence behavior and improve health (e.g.,

use social marketing methods, consider behavioral theories such as the 3
Health Belief Model or Stages of Change Model)
7 Facilitate communication among individuals, groups, and organizations 2

8 Describe the roles of governmental public health, health care, and other
2
partners in improving the health of a community
2.3
7
Comments:
#2 (Domain I Want to Grow In) - Communication is an area that I feel like I can always
grow in. Not only is it important to be able to communicate effectivley with other
professionals in my field, it is important that I can communicate directly with the
community I serve. Communcation is applicable to everything I will be doing in
community nutrtion through my internship and it is important that I continue to build on
these skills as I tend to be more reserved and my oral communcation skills tend to fall
behind my written communication skills. For me, it is important that I can communicate
the needs of the community with organizations and communicate the programs and
efforts of the organizations with the community. With this being said, the two
subcompetencies that I want to focus on improving this semester are #7 Facilitate
communication among individuals, groups, and organizations and #4 Suggest
approaches for disseminating public health data and information (e.g., social media,
newspapers, newsletters, journals, town hall meetings, libraries, neighborhood gathering.
8
Cultural Competency Skills

1 Describe the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals and

populations (e.g., language, culture, values, socioeconomic status,
geography, education, race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, 3
profession, religious affiliation, mental and physical abilities, historical
experiences)
2 Describe the diversity of individuals and populations in a community 3
3 Describe the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services,

2
and the health of a community
4 Recognize the contribution of diverse perspectives in developing,

implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect 3
the health of a community
5 Address the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing

2
policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a community
6 Describe the effects of policies, programs, and services on different

2
populations in a community
7 Describe the value of a diverse public health workforce 3
2.6
9
Comments:
#3 (Domain I Want to Grow In) - I have been able to learn about cultural competency
over the past couple of years of my dietetics classes. Cultural competency is a topic that
is really important to me because I will be working with a variety of people from different
backgrounds, traditions, and ways of thinking. My average score was 2.7, which is not
bad but is also not great as well. This is an area I would really like to improve in over the
semester. My strengths in this area mainly come from understanding the concept of
diversity and being able to see how cultural differences might influence community
programs. However, I think that were I lack the most knowledge and skill is knowing how
to take diversity of a community into consideration when building community programs
and how diversity influences policy, programs, and services. In addition, I think I can
grow a lot in the area of understanding the basic cultural aspects of groups while
undertanding that each person is a unique individual. So, the subcompetencies that I
would like to focus on for this domain are #2 Describe the diversity of individuals and
populations in a community and # 5 Address the diversity of individuals and populations
when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of a
community.
10
Community Dimensions of Practice Skills

1 Describe the programs and services provided by governmental and non-

1
governmental organizations to improve the health of a community
2 Recognize relationships that are affecting health in a community (e.g.,

relationships among health departments, hospitals, community health 2
centers, primary care providers, schools, community-based
organizations, and other types of organizations)
3 Suggest relationships that may be needed to improve health in a

3
community
4 Support relationships that improve health in a community 3
5 Collaborate with community partners to improve health in a community

(e.g., participate in committees, share data and information, connect 2
people to resources)
6 Engage community members (e.g., focus groups, talking circles, formal

meetings, key informant interviews) to improve health in a community
2
7 Provide input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving

2
policies, programs, and services
8 Use assets and resources (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, public libraries,
hospitals, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, federal grants, 3
fellowship programs) to improve health in a community
9 Inform the public about policies, programs, and resources that improve
2
health in a community
10 Describe the importance of community-based participatory research 3
2.3
11
Comments:
#4 (Domain I Want to Grow In) - I have not spent much time in the field of community
nutrition and this is an area that I am very interested in growing in, specifically when it
comes to how I can better partner with the community I am serving in order to provide the
best possible servies, education, and events. This means that I will need more
knowledge on how to partner with local groups and how community groups already in
place can be used as a vehicle for community nutriton. These are my weak areas and
are two things I really want to focus on growing in during this semester. I will be working
at a headstart program this semester, so I am excited to see what opprotunites arise for
me to learn more about partnering with the community. The two specific
subcompetencies that I want to focus on are #2 Recognize relationships that are
affecting health in a community (e.g., relationships among health departments, hospitals,
community health centers, primary care providers, schools, community-based
organizations, and other types of organizations and #1 escribe the programs and
services provided by governmental and nongovernmental organizations to improve the
health of a community.
12
Public Health Sciences Skills

1 Describe the scientific foundation of the field of public health 2
2 Identify prominent events in the history of public health (e.g., smallpox

eradication, development of vaccinations, infectious disease control, safe 2
drinking water, emphasis on hygiene and hand washing, access to health
care for people with disabilities)
3 Describe how public health sciences (e.g., biostatistics, epidemiology,

environmental health sciences, health services administration, social and 2
behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) are used in the
delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services
4 Retrieve evidence (e.g., research findings, case reports, community

surveys) from print and electronic sources (e.g., PubMed, Journal of
3
Public Health Management and Practice, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report, The World Health Report) to support decision making
5 Recognize limitations of evidence (e.g., validity, reliability, sample size,

bias, generalizability) 4
6 Describe evidence used in developing, implementing, evaluating, and

improving policies, programs, and services
3
7 Describe the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures for the ethical
conduct of research (e.g., patient confidentiality, protection of human 2
subjects, Americans with Disabilities Act)
8 Contribute to the public health evidence base (e.g., participating in Public

Health Practice-Based Research Networks, community-based 2
participatory research, and academic health departments; authoring
articles; making data available to researchers)
9 Suggest partnerships that may increase use of evidence in public health

practice (e.g., between practice and academic organizations, with health 3
sciences libraries)
2.6
13
Comments:
Throughout my course work over the past few years I have learned bits and pieces about
public health sciences. For me, this means I feel like I have some of the basic concepts
or at least have heard of them. Where I struggle is knowing the history of public health
sciences and understanding how this information in decision making and
creating/evaluating programs. I think this is an area that I will learn a lot more about
through the course work of this class and I am excited to see what all I will learn.
14
Financial Planning and Management Skills

1 Describe the structures, functions, and authorizations of governmental

public health programs and organizations 1
2 Describe government agencies with authority to impact the health of a

2
community
3 Adhere to organizational policies and procedures 3
4 Describe public health funding mechanisms (e.g., categorical grants,

1
fees, third-party reimbursement, tobacco taxes)
5 Contribute to development of program budgets 2
6 Provide information for proposals for funding (e.g., foundations,

government agencies, corporations)
1
7 Provide information for development of contracts and other agreements

for programs and services
1
8 Describe financial analysis methods used in making decisions about

policies, programs, and services (e.g., cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, 1
cost-utility analysis, return on investment)
9 Operate programs within budget 2

10 Describe how teams help achieve program and organizational goals
(e.g., the value of different disciplines, sectors, skills, experiences, and 2
perspectives; scope of work and timeline)
11 Motivate colleagues for the purpose of achieving program and

organizational goals (e.g., participating in teams, encouraging sharing of 2
ideas, respecting different points of view)
12 Use evaluation results to improve program and organizational 3

performance
13 Describe program performance standards and measures 2
15
14 Use performance management systems for program and organizational

improvement (e.g., achieving performance objectives and targets, 1
increasing efficiency, refining processes, meeting Healthy People
objectives, sustaining accreditation)
1.7
Comments:
#1 (Domain I Want to Grow In) - Out of all of the 8 domains, financial planning and
mangement skills is my weakest area of knowledge. While I have taken a class in the
past about foodservice management, this did not provide me a lot of skill and knowledge
in the competencies in this domain because we were focused primarliy on how a
foodservice is run and how to motivate people and create a business plan. However, this
is an area I would like to grow in because these skills will be very benefical when working
in a community nutrition setting on how to go about creating an orgaization that works
within government policies and procedures. In additon, it is important to know how to
create an effecitve team that works well together. For this semester, I would like to focus
on two different areas of growth, which is #11 Motivate colleagues for the purpose of
achieving program and organizational goals (e.g., participating in teams, encouraging
sharing of ideas, respecting different points of view) and #2 Describe government
agencies with authority to impact the health of a community.
16
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills

1 Incorporate ethical standards of practice (e.g., Public Health Code of

Ethics) into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and 1
communities
2 Describe public health as part of a larger inter-related system of

organizations that influence the health of populations at local, national, 2
and global levels
3 Describe the ways public health, health care, and other organizations can
work together or individually to impact the health of a community
2
4 Contribute to development of a vision for a healthy community (e.g., 3

emphasis on prevention, health equity for all, excellence and innovation)
5 Identify internal and external facilitators and barriers that may affect the
delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services (e.g., using root cause
2
analysis and other quality improvement methods and tools, problem
solving)
6 Describe needs for professional development (e.g., training, mentoring,

3
peer advising, coaching)
7 Participate in professional development opportunities 2

8 Describe the impact of changes (e.g., social, political, economic,
2
scientific) on organizational practices
9 Describe ways to improve individual and program performance 3
2.2
17
Comments:
This is an area that I do not feel super confident in. However, I think my first step in
becoming a more effective leader and knowing more about systems thinking is to
become a better communicator and this is why I want to focus on communcaiton this
semester. In this domain, I think it will be important for me to learn about the public health
systems in place at every level (from local to nationwide) and understand how they
impact each other and work together. In addition, it is important to advance employees
skills and professional development to improve the community.
18
Your Results
Enter the average total from each domain in the corresponding row below.
Domain Average Total
Analytical/Assessment Skills 2.5
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills 2.3
Communication Skills 2.3
Cultural Competency Skills 2.6
Community Dimensions of Practice Skills 2.3
Public Health Sciences Skills 2.6
Financial Planning and Management Skills 1.7
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills 2.2
Interpreting Your Results
Based on the averages you have for each domain in the “Your Results” section above, you are
now ready to identify the strengths in your practice and the areas that you would like to improve
or strengthen.
For example, if you have scored a “1” in any domain, you will want to consider focusing your
time and energy toward achieving the competencies in that domain, followed by domains in
which you scored a “2,” with a lower priority given to domains in which you scored a “3” or
higher.
Once you have identified your priorities, you can use this information to guide you in developing
a learning plan with one or more personal professional goals for the next year; in engaging in a
discussion with your supervisor, mentor, or coach; and in choosing learning opportunities that
will help you reach your goals and meet the requirements for continuing competence in your
occupation or discipline.
19

Competency Assessment Tier1 2014 Pre

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Competency Assessment Tier1 2014 Pre

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Competency Assessment Tier1 2014 Pre

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Competency Assessment

Tier 1 Public Health Professionals

How to Complete This Competency Assessment

1) Read each competency statement listed within a domain.

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

3 = Knowledgeable I am comfortable with my knowledge or ability to apply the skill

4 = Proficient I am very comfortable, am an expert, or could teach this skill to others

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

To what degree are you able to effectively…

1 Describe factors affecting the health of a community (e.g., equity,

2 Identify quantitative and qualitative data and information (e.g., vital

3 Apply ethical principles in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using,

4 Use information technology in accessing, collecting, analyzing, using,

5 Select valid and reliable data 2

7 Identify gaps in data 4

8 Collect valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative data 2

9 Describe public health applications of quantitative and qualitative data 3

10 Use quantitative and qualitative data 3

12 Contribute to assessments of community health status and factors

13 Explain how community health assessments use information about

14 Describe how evidence (e.g., data, findings reported in peer-reviewed

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

To what degree are you able to effectively…

1 Contribute to state/Tribal/community health improvement planning (e.g.,

2 Contribute to development of program goals and objectives 2

3 Describe organizational strategic plan (e.g., includes measurable

4 Contribute to implementation of organizational strategic plan 3

5 Identify current trends (e.g., health, fiscal, social, political, environmental)

7 Describe implications of policies, programs, and services 2

8 Implement policies, programs, and services 2

9 Explain the importance of evaluations for improving policies, programs,

10 Gather information for evaluating policies, programs, and services (e.g.,

11 Apply strategies for continuous quality improvement 2

12 Describe how public health informatics is used in developing,

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

To what degree are you able to effectively…

1 Identify the literacy of populations served (e.g., ability to obtain, interpret, 2

2 Communicate in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency

3 Solicit input from individuals and organizations (e.g., chambers of

4 Suggest approaches for disseminating public health data and information

5 Convey data and information to professionals and the public using a

6 Communicate information to influence behavior and improve health (e.g.,

7 Facilitate communication among individuals, groups, and organizations 2

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

To what degree are you able to effectively…

1 Describe the concept of diversity as it applies to individuals and

2 Describe the diversity of individuals and populations in a community 3

3 Describe the ways diversity may influence policies, programs, services,

4 Recognize the contribution of diverse perspectives in developing,

5 Address the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing

6 Describe the effects of policies, programs, and services on different

7 Describe the value of a diverse public health workforce 3

1 = None I am unaware or have very little knowledge of the skill

To what degree are you able to effectively…

1 Describe the programs and services provided by governmental and non-

2 Recognize relationships that are affecting health in a community (e.g.,

3 Suggest relationships that may be needed to improve health in a

4 Support relationships that improve health in a community 3

5 Collaborate with community partners to improve health in a community