Core Competencies for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Providers
Overview and Resources
Adolescent Sexual Health Work Group
(ASHWG)
Objectives
1. What makes an effective adolescent sexual health educator or provider?
2. How to become more effective through assessment and competency-based learning.
3. Creating a map for professional growth4. What resources are available?
What do you want our youth too Knowo Feelo Do
In relation to their sexuality?
Adolescent Reproductive Health Outcomes
Interventions: Curriculum, Counseling, Modeling, Health Care, Immunizations
Provider Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes
What are 5 things that someone who works with adolescents in the area of reproductive health should know
or do well?
o Knowledgeo Skillo Attitude
The knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes common to all who work with adolescents in
the area of reproductive health.
Core Competencies
A variety of reproductive health programs with different standards, training, strategies, and messages targeting the same youth.
NEED for Core Competencies
• Developed by a Subcommittee of the California Adolescent Sexual Health Workgroup (ASHWG)
• 2006—2008• Over 100 professionals gave input into the
process
Core Competencies for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Need for a common standard that all providers share to measure growth, learning, and determine staff development needs.
NEED for Core Competencies
• Public Health• Health Education• Public Health Nursing• Addiction Counseling• Professional Development Coordinators• Marriage Family Therapists• Social Work
Other Disciplines That Have Developed Core Competencies
A: Professional and Legal RoleB: Adolescent DevelopmentC: Youth Centered Approach and Youth CultureD: Sexual and Reproductive HealthE: Pregnancy, STIs, HIV
Core Competency Domains
• 21 cognitive• 31 operative
• Cognitive Sub-domain -- Competencies that focus on basic facts and knowledge
• Operative Sub-domain -- Competencies that highlight the application of knowledge to performance
52 Core Competencies
Who?
o The Core Competencies apply to health clinic workers, test counselors, case managers, clinicians, classroom teachers, community educators, health outreach workers etc.
o Each job will demand additional job specific or role specific competencies beyond the “core”.
o Guide hiring, training, & evaluationo Collaboration & cross trainingo Support consistent health outcomeso Shared body of knowledge & skillso Program Developmento Framework for Higher Education and Licensing
and Certification bodies
PURPOSE of the Core Competencies
o No prior experience 0o Introductory 1o Intermediate 2o Competent 3o Accomplished 4
Performance Descriptors
o No prior experience 0o Introductory 1o Intermediate 2o Competent 3o Accomplished 4
Domain C:
Rate Yourself Using this Rubric
Core Competency Resources
o Core Competencies for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
o Performance Assessment and Human Resources Toolkit
o Competency-Based Training
Part II
Performance Assessment and Human Resources Toolkit
Performance Assessmentand
Human Resources Toolkit
Performance Assessmentand
Human Resources Toolkit
Assessment of Competence
Complete your own Self-Assessment
o No prior experience 0o Introductory 1o Intermediate 2o Competent 3o Accomplished 4
Performance Descriptors
Share in Dyads
What was it like to conduct a self-assessment?
What are you learning?
Assessment Principles
The more accurate the assessment, the better the professional development plan.
Assessment of competence is best accomplished through a comprehensive approach that uses multiple methods
Assessment PrinciplesAssessment should be designed to capture the complexity of learning and performance. How well do staff:
• Integrate and transfer learning over time• Apply knowledge to new settings and contexts• Engage in problem solving strategies• Create, express and interpret meaning
o Self Assessmento Performance Evaluationo Compare Strength of Team Memberso Assess Training Needs
Applications of the Competency Assessment and Evaluation Tool
Knowledge Assessment
o Multiple Choice Questionso Short Answero Pre – Post Testso Oral Questioningo Essayso Oral Presentation
Performance Assessment
Generally involves methods of direct observation by clients, peers, supervisors,Or practitioner generated records and products
Performance Assessment Instruments
Pages 12-15
o Global Assessmentso Supervisor Assessmentso Client Surveyso Self-Assessmento Role Play Simulationso Direct Observation
Performance Assessment Instruments
Practitioner Productso Client Record Audits
o Portfolio – practitioner generated
Multi-Stage Assessmento Combines self-assessment, written examination, and direct observation of performance skill.o Accommodates different learning styleso Captures cognitive and operative sub-
domainso Creates a complete, integrated picture
Human Resources Toolkito Job Descriptiono Structured Interview Guideo Performance Descriptorso Professional Development Plano Competency Assessment and Evaluation
Job Descriptiono The Core Competencies can reframe a job
description from a list of tasks to a performance profile.
o Identify the most salient skills, knowledge and attitudes that relate to job performance.
Job Description Samples
o Comfort and confidence discussing topics related to adolescent sexuality
o The ability to apply theories/models of behavior change as they relate to adolescents
o Communication skills that emphasize a strength-based approach to youth development
Structured Interview Guideo Page 20o How would you respond to an adolescent who
discloses sexual behavior that conflicts with your personal morality.
o Pretend that I am a 15 year-old adolescent. Explain the protection of confidentiality and the limits of confidentiality to me.
o Describe some of the common behavioral factors linking pregnancy, STIs and HIV.
Part III
Training and Learning for Competence
Training and Learning for Competence
How did you learn to become a skillful provider of sexual and
reproductive health?
o Academic Courseworko Workshopso Bookso Journalso Televisiono Conferenceso Informal conversationso Direct Observation
All the Ways We Learn
o Input from Peerso Input from supervisorso Working with a mentoro Doingo Making mistakeso Online courseso YouTube
o Specific goals and outcomes to be demonstrated by the targeted audience
o Performance-oriented, highlighting outcomes over methods used to attain training goals
o Demonstration of knowledge and performance of skill
Competency Based Training
Adolescent Reproductive Health Outcomes
Interventions: Curriculum, Counseling, Modeling, Health Care, Immunizations
Provider Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes
o Identify and Assess the Audienceo Develop Measurable Learning Objectiveso Develop an Assessment for Each Objectiveo Select Content and Teaching Methodso Develop a Curriculum or Course of Studyo Ongoing Evaluation and Support
Developing Competency-Based Training
Identify and Assess the Audience
Developing Competency-Based Training
Develop Measurable Learning Objectives
Developing Competency-Based Training
Develop an Assessment for Each Objective
Developing Competency-Based Training
Select Content and Teaching Methods
Developing Competency-Based Training
Develop a Curriculum or Course of Study
Developing Competency-Based Training
Ongoing Evaluation and Support
Developing Competency-Based Training
Cognitive Competencies – trainings, workshops, online courses, independent work and investigations,
Operative Competencies – on the job training, mentoring by peers or supervisors, teaching or modeling for others,
Training for Competence
Description of Competency Based Training
Matrix with an analysis of trainings that address specific core competencies.
Competency-Based Training Toolkit