A Collaborative Approach to Workforce Development Kim Barro Hosted by the Pan Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice CPHA Conference June 4, 2008 Funding for this project was provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada

Introductions Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice Established in early 2006 Provides strategic guidance, expert advice and leadership to enhance public health nutrition practice in Canada. Leaders from public health nutrition from across Canada Organization liaisons from CPHA, PHRED, Regulatory Body, DC Funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada to Dietitians of Canada to support their work Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

Task Force Members  Kim Barro  Sheryl Bates Dancho  Jane Bellman  Tara Brown  Elsie De Roose  Erica Di Ruggiero  Ann Fox  Mary Lou Gignac  Rhonda Karas Chartrand  Pam Kheong  Cindy Scythes  Joan Silzer  Marie Traynor  Lysanne Trudeau  Marlene Wyatt  Janice Macdonald  Karen MacDougall  Sonya Kupka

Outline  Welcome  Strengthening Public Health Nutrition Practice in Canada Context and Background Overview of Work to Date  Next Steps Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

Context Recent public health events & issues: SARS Walkerton Pandemic Flu Obesity Chronic, preventable, nutrition related diseases (heart disease, diabetes) Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

National Response Ministers of Health, June 2004: Agreed to a 10-year action plan to strengthen public health Public Health Human Resource Task Group: Developed a pan-Canadian framework to strengthen public health capacity & ensure a competent workforce Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

Discipline Specific Groups  Dietitians (public health nutritionist, public health dietitians, community nutritionists)  Nurses  Environmental Public Health Professionals  Epidemiologists  Physicians  Health Promoters  Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Technicians, Dental Assistants Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

Overview on what we have done… o Developed an action plan and secured funding from PHAC to implement this plan o Situational Assessment – journal publication pending A Systematic Review of Literature on competencies for PHN practice Key Informant Interviews PEEST Factor Analysis Pulling it Together - The Consensus Meeting o Presentations at CPHA and DC in 2007 and 2008 o and newsletter updates o Collaboration with other public health professions 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

Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada Essential, knowledge, skills & attitudes necessary for the broad practice of public health  Transcend boundaries of specific disciplines & program  Basic building blocks for public health practice & use of an overall public health approach  Baseline requirements to fulfill public health system core functions  Launched at Canadian Public Health Association Conference, September 2007 Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

Mapping of Existing Competencies Categories of core competencies for public health (Release 1.0): 1. Public health sciences 2. Assessment and analysis 3. Policy & program planning implementation and evaluation 4. Partnerships, collaboration and advocacy 5. Diversity and inclusiveness 6. Communication 7. Leadership 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

Next Steps 1. Present to dietetic educators and host a workshop at the Dietitians of Canada Conference next week. 2. Review and integrate feedback into a discussion Paper by the fall 3. Consult with stakeholders through workshops and individual interviews 4. Conduct an electronic stakeholder poll and/or survey to validate findings from consultation. 5. Disseminate final recommendations by June 2009 Pan-Canadian Task Force on Public Health Nutrition Practice

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