November 2011 - Our Voice in Action

The Alcohol Workgroup

The Alcohol Policy Network has been busy for the month of October preparing for upcoming, exciting deliverables. The staff at APN have set up registration and advertising for their third-quarter webinar where representatives from Toronto Public Health and Simcoe-Muskoka Public Health will review strategies to prevent harm from alcohol in their respective regions. Additionally, APN staff have been working with partners at HC-Link to deliver a presentation on alcohol policy and how it affects the health of thier respective communities. Lastly, APN has been collaborating with the Ontario University and College Health Association to lead a half-day workshop on school/university alcohol policies in mid-November. For more information please visit www.apolnet.ca or contact Program Coordinator Jason LeMar at jlemar@opha.on.ca.

Public Health Competency Implementation Work Group

The purpose of the PHCI Work Group is to integrate public health competencies to strengthen human resources planning and workforce capacity for public health.

Over the 2010–11 year, the group initiated an evaluation of a pilot of the Public Health Competency Based Employee Performance Management Toolkit. The toolkit (2009) provides guidance on public health employee performance management, based on observable behaviours that reflect the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada (Release 1.0).

An evaluation framework was developed in 2010. Four health units are participating in the real-time piloting of the toolkit, providing feedback on the use of the tool at the three critical points in the performance management cycle. The expected completion date of the pilot is February 2012. This evaluation will inform best practice around incorporating core competencies into performance management.

The toolkit has been highlighted at several professional conferences, and adaptation has begun for public health nursing competencies.

The Work Group has provided a platform for networking and knowledge exchange around incorporating core competencies not only into performance management, but other accountability and quality assurance measures such as professional development. Future work is being guided by strategic planning conducted throughout 2011.