The core competencies represent a set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for the broad practice of public health. They transcend the boundaries of the specific disciplines within public health and help to unify the profession. Descriptions of programs offered by OCE include competencies addressed from the list below.

EP: Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness has been identified as a critical part of public health practice. The following competencies outline emergency response activities in public health as established by the Columbia School of Nursing Center for Health Policy and the CDC.

a. Define situations that require an emergency response

b. Describe the responsibilities of a health department during an emergency situation

c. Describe your health department's emergency response plan

d. Describe the incident command system in your community

e. Carry out your role and responsibilities in an emergency response

f. Use emergency communication equipment

g. Perform your communication role in an emergency (communication within the health department, with the media, or with the community)

h. Find resources that will help you carry out your responsibilities during an emergency

i. Describe the signs and symptoms of biological agents that may be used in a bio-terrorist attack (i.e. Plague, Small Pox, Anthrax), and respond appropriately when you suspect someone in your community has been exposed to one of these agents

j. Describe the signs and symptoms of exposure to chemicals that might be used in a terrorist attack (i.e. Sarin, Ricin), and respond appropriately when you suspect someone in your community has been exposed to one of these agents

ES: Essential Services in Public Health

Established by the Council on Linkages between Academia and Public Health Practice.

1. Monitor health status to identify community problems

a. Be aware of amount of each important health problem in your community.

b. Use reports from disease surveillance or vital registry systems to identify important health issues in your community.

c. Determine appropriate uses and limitations or gaps of existing health data for your community

d. Conduct community assessments including identifying needs, assets and priorities.

e. Communicate with other agencies to identify new disease cases in your community.

f. Recognize a disease outbreak in your community or nearby communities.

g. Use statistics to analyze health data and make relevant inferences from the data.

h. Present information or data on health issues to other health professionals or to the general public.

i. Solicit input from individuals and organizations about important health issues in the community.

j. Use public health software like EPI-INFO.

k. Maintain the security and confidentiality of personal and public health information.

2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community

a. Design research studies to identify risk factors for a health problem.

b. Read scientific literature to keep up-to-date with knowledge of new diseases and disease risk factors.

c. Understand strengths and weaknesses of published research.

d. Collect biological or environmental samples to better understand a health problem.

e. Perform environmental health risk assessments.

f. Explain your technical/computer needs to the appropriate people.

3. Inform, educate and empower people about health issues

a. Communicate effectively both in writing and speaking.

b. Meet with professionals and community members to gather opinions about how to promote the health of the population to address a priority health problem.

c. Identify cultural, social, and behavioral factors that affect health problems in your community.

d. Provide health promotion and disease prevention information to groups or individuals.

e. Use the media (newspapers, radio, television) to communicate health information.

f. Use a computer-based catalog like Medline to identify articles or books related to a health topic.

4. Mobilize community partnerships and action to solve health problems

a. Interact effectively with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.

b. Help conduct health promotion campaigns and programs.

c. Use health promotion models to design or evaluate a health intervention program.

d. Use the internet to make health information available to the community.

e. Advocate for public health programs and resources.

f. Apply principles of group dynamics to develop effective partnerships.

g. Establish and maintain community partnerships to maximize use of community assets.

5. Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts

a. Collect, summarize, and interpret information relevant to a health issue.

b. Formulate policy options.

c. Understand the feasibility and expected outcome of each policy option.

d. Use current techniques in decision analysis and health planning.

e. Develop long-range plans for health programs.

f. Plan and implement effective emergency response services.

6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety

a. Stay informed of public health laws and regulations.

b. Monitor enforcement of public health laws and regulations.

c. Work with law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations that protect health and ensure safety.

d. Use regulations to promote health in your community.

e. Explain public health regulations to community.

7. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of healthcare when otherwise unavailable

a. Identify healthcare service needs in your community.

b. Work with interpreters to provide public health services to non-English speaking members of the community.

c. Coordinate with other groups and agencies to ensure appropriate health care services are provided to your community.

d. Refer clients to other agencies where appropriate to receive personal health services.

e. Develop a clinical health or social service plan for clients.

f. Negotiate contracts.

g. Write proposals to obtain funding.

h. Develop a budget.

i. Adapt healthcare service programs to take into account cultural differences in the population.

8. Assure an expert public health workforce

a. Create appropriate staff development and training plans for employees.

b. Recruit and interview applicants for positions in your agency.

c. Use organizational theory to improve professional practice in your agency.

d. Ensure that staff have and maintain appropriate licenses and credentials.

e. Translate state or local policy into organizational structure and programs.

9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of health services

a. Develop surveys and studies to measure cost effectiveness, accessibility or quality of health care services in your community.

b. Understand factors that influence use of health services

c. Follow-up with clients to ensure that they have received health or social services.

d. Evaluate programs to ensure that objectives and performance goals are met.

e. Monitor day-to-day operations of programs that provide health services.  

10. Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems

a. Conduct research or interventions to develop unique approaches to solving health problems.

b. Educate legislature on new policy options.

c. Create partnerships between public and private organizations to deliver public health services.