Skills Enhancement for Public Health "Building a Solid Foundation for Public Health Practice"

About Us

The ability to understand and use health information is the foundation for effective public health practice in Canada. The Skills Enhancement for Public Health program was created to help public health practitioners across Canada develop and strengthen the skills needed to meet the core competencies for public health . Applying these skills will result in sound evidence-based decision-making and planning at the local level to protect and maintain the health of the public.

The Skills Enhancement program is one of the initiatives of the Public Health Agency of Canada's Office of Public Health Practice . The Office's mandate is to improve public health infrastructure by focusing on workforce, information, and knowledge systems, and public health law and information policy through leadership, innovation, and concerted action.

• Skills Enhancement for Public Health: A Competency-based Program
  
• Designed for public health practitioners
  
• About the online training modules
  
• More information
  
• Working with partners
  

Skills Enhancement for Public Health: A Competency-based Program

To strengthen our public health system, it is essential to develop a competent public health workforce using a competency-based approach. Through a series of Internet-based modules in English and French, the Skills Enhancement program helps public health practitioners increase their knowledge, skills and abilities to support the core competencies for public health. Applying these skills will result in sound evidence-based decision-making and planning to protect and maintain the health of the public.

Designed for public health practitioners

The Program is designed for public health practitioners across Canada, for example, public health nurses, environmental health professionals, health promoters, program managers, dental hygienists, dietitians, policy analysts, and other public health practitioners. The Program provides continuing education at its best - an adult learning environment for public health practitioners who want to strengthen their public health knowledge and skills and make better-informed public health decisions.

About the online training modules

The Internet-based modules are offered over an 8-week period during Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions. Modules are available in both English and French to public health practitioners across Canada. Interdisciplinary teams of learners from across the country are guided through the Canadian-focused content and assignments by a trained facilitator, and are connected through discussion boards. Each module is relevant and specific to Canadian public health practice. Online, distance learning is both more affordable and flexible than traditional continuing education opportunities, and participation occurs according to the schedules of the learners within the 8 week timeframe.

 

"I loved this learning environment. Pertinent information was available whenever I had the time to study and read. A welcome medium for health professionals providing services in rural and remote areas of Canada."

- learner

 

More information about this innovative online continuing education opportunity, including detailed descriptions of current modules and a list of future modules please visit click here.

Working with partners

Many partners have been involved in developing the Skills Enhancement for Public Health program. These partners include federal, provincial, and territorial governments, professional associations, non-government organizations, regional health authorities, local public health departments, universities, and other groups with an interest in public health.

For more information about Skills Enhancement for Public Health contact us.