Public Health Practice in CanadaHelp Build the Future
Pan Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
&Capital Health
Core Competencies WorkshopDebert, Nova ScotiaSeptember 23, 2009
This project has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada
Outline
Pan Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Foundation
Consultation
Conclusions/Recommendations
Capital Health - a tangible application of the Core Competencies
The Foundation
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
National Response•Ministers of Health, June 2004
– 10-year action plan to strengthen public health
•Public Health Human Resource Task Group
– Pan-Canadian framework to strengthen public health capacity & ensure a competent workforce
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Public health needs of the population
Define the public health workforce for planning purposes
Gather data on the public health
workforce
Identify core public health services
Identify function-specific** public
health competencies
Identify core* public health competencies
Develop worker competency
assessment tools and incentives
Align education programs to reflect competencies and interprofessional
practice
Develop organizational competency
assessment tools and incentives
Map the competencies of each discipline against the
core and function-specific competencies
Develop recruitment / retention strategies to
attract required competencies
Develop structures to support
interprofessional education (space, time, instructors)
Deploy workforce in interprofessional
models based on their competencies
Identify best practices in interprofessional
deployment
Identify best practices in recruitment and retention
Identify best practices in education (including placements, continuing
education)
Develop accreditation
standards / quality control measures
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
• Established in early 2006
• Strategic guidance, expert advice and leadership to enhance public health nutrition practice in Canada.
• Leaders from public health nutrition from across Canada
• Funding support from the Public Health Agency of Canada through Dietitians of Canada
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Task Force Objectives
1. Define public health nutrition practice in Canada.
2. Investigate and report on the need for discipline specific public health nutrition competency sets/frameworks.
3. Explore an organizational structure that can provide leadership for public health nutrition practice issues in Canada.
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Milestone Achievements
Action Plan for the Task Force Situational Assessment Communications Competency Mapping Consultation Recommendations for Action
(pending)
(Available via the DC Website)
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
The Consulation
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
From Research to Action
Discussion document: Strengthening Public Health Nutrition Practice in Canada Proposed definition of practice Identification of public health nutrition
competencies Suggestions for organizational supports
Principles for Consultation
Inclusive Transparent Flexible Meaningful Rigorous
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Mechanisms for Consultation
1. Pilot Consultation (2008 DC Conference)
2. Pan Canadian Consultationa) Discussion Groupsb) Independent Written Surveysc) Written Submissions, Emails
Supported by Angus Reid Strategies
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Participation in Consultation
1. Pilot Consultation a) 103 dietitans and educators (67 and
36 respectively)
2. National Consultationa) 20 discussion groupsb) 297 completed surveysc) 11 emails
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Public Health Nutrition: Building on what’s already out there
The Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0 (2007)
The Essential Competencies for Dietetic Practice (2006) developed by provincial dietetics regulatory bodies
The Competencies for the Entry-Level Dietitian (1996) and knowledge statements (1997) from Dietitians of Canada and
Provincial and International Public Health Nutrition Competencies (Toronto, NS, US, UK, Australia)
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
The six additional competencies
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Determinants of a population’s nutritional status
Knowledge of food systems
Food and nutrition surveillance and monitoring
Development of public policy
Ethical resources
Environmental and ecological integrity
Proposed Competency Set for Pan Canadian Consultation
Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0
+ Dietetic Competencies (ie Dietitians of Canada and Provincial Regulatory Bodies)
+ 6 Additional Competencies_______________________________________________________________________________________
= Public Health Nutrition Competencies
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
How much do you support this proposal?
66%
21%
6%
3%
4%
Strongly support
Moderately support
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don’t know
Oppose:9%
Support:88%
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
The Recommendations
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
Proposed Recommendations
1. use def'n to shape the future direction of public health nutrition practice;
2. update dietetic competencies to provide a foundation for desired public health nutrition practice;
3. ensure all dietetic students and/or interns are exposed to public health...
4. support new hires and existing staff to acquire the updated dietetic competencies...;
5. define and promote advanced level public health nutrition practice; and
6. There are additional supports at the national level for public health nutrition practice,... and integrated with other disciplines.
Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice
An example of a practical application of the Core Competencies
Public Health, Capital District has been using the domains of the core competencies for hiring purposes.
Specifically in the Interview guide. Promising Tangible application of
the Core Competencies.
Thank You!
Questions?