High Level Meeting on Human Resources for Health in the Caribbean

1. High Level Meeting on Human Resources for Health in the Caribbean “Public Health” Human Resource Planning Robin Buckland RN MScN, Director Field Service, Training and Response Division Public Health Agency of Canada March 20, 2012

2. Defining “Public Health” • John M. Last’s Dictionary of Public Health: • Public health is one of the efforts organized by society to protect, promote, and restore the peoples’ health • Functions of public health • Population health assessment • Health surveillance • Health promotion • Disease & injury prevention • Health protection • Emergency preparedness & response Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

3. Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

4. The Canadian Context • Provincial and territorial responsibility for the delivery of health services • Collaborative approach to pan-Canadian health human resource planning • ACHDHR (F/P/T committee) • Public Health Network • Public Health Infrastructure Steering Committee • Public Health Human Resources Task Group Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

5. Framework for PHHR Planning Vision: Through collaborative planning, all jurisdictions in Canada will have a flexible, knowledgeable public health workforce working in safe supportive environments to meet the population's public health needs, & reduce health & social disparities. 4 goals • 19 strategies • 86 activities 4 Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

6. Develop accreditation Done standards /quality control measures Identify best practices in education including placements & GoodProgress continuing education Identify best practices in Identify best practices In interprofessional Started recruitment and retention deployment Develop structures Develop recruitment Deploy workforce in to support interprofessional retention strategies interprofessional to attract required models based on education (space competencies their competencies instructors) time, Align education Map the Develop Develop worker programs to reflect competencies of each organizational competency competencies and discipline against the competency assessment tools core and function - assessment tools interprofessional and incentives practice specific competencies and incentives Define the public Identify function Identify core Gather data on the Identify core public health workforce specific public public health public health health services for planning health workforce competencies purposes competencies 5 Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada Public health needs of the population

7. PHHR Task Group: Purpose 6 Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada The overarching purpose of the PHHR Task group is to: • Provide strategic analysis and development of public health initiatives requiring a systems perspective and those requiring multiple stakeholder involvement

8. Core Competencies for Public Health Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

9. Enumeration Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada Naylor Report Recommendation re: PHHR planning Assessment of public health human resources in Canada - limited by sparse data Jurisdictions struggling with continued shortages in their respective public health workforces Overall - supply problems & inequitable distribution

10. Quality Graduate Education 9 Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada Revised Master of Public Health (MPH) Program and Practicum Guidelines Survey of Canadian Universities Offering MPH Programs – Assessing Use & Areas for Improvement Emerging network of schools and programs in public health Accreditation

11. Skills Online is a continuing professional development program for public health professionals 10, 8-week, online facilitated modules, 2 self-directed modules; English and French Content mapped to the Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada Awarded 2011 CSTD silver award for training excellence in e-learning Cited as a “best practice” by PAHO Caribbean delivery – Virtual campus Skills Online Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

12. Program Mission: Canadian Field Epidemiology Program To strengthen public health practice in Canada through practical training in applied epidemiology Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

13. International activities 12 Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada • STOP (Stop Transmission of Polio) • Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) requests for assistance • Mass gathering surveillance, e.g. • Cricket World Cup 2007 • Vancouver Olympic Games 2010 • Surveillance technical assistance, e.g. • PAHO Belize 2011-2012 • PAHO Bahamas 2012 • CAREC 2012 (Trinidad & Tobago)

14. 13 The Canadian Public Health Service Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada Mission: To enhance Canada's public health capacity by placing qualified public health officers in jurisdictions across Canada to respond to both routine and emerging public health needs.

15. HHR Lessons Learned • Collaborative HHR planning is key • Inter sectorial involvement • Content experts • Government representatives • Clear plan/roadmap/framework endorsed by decision makers • Perseverance • Step by step Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

16. Possible Areas for Collaboration • Skills Online • Core Competencies for public health • Field Services Training & Response Field Services Training Institute • PHHR TG – Sharing promising practices Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada

17. 16 Thank you! Public Health Agency of Canada | Agence de la santé publique du Canada