Mapping competencies to assess trainings for the public health work force

Multiplying Connections, an initiative of the Health Federation of Philadelphia, developed a set of core competencies outlining basic trauma-informed knowledge, skills, and practices needed by professionals to promote trauma-sensitive services for young children in the public sector. Early childhood trauma, such as violence, neglect and abuse, is prevalent in our society and can have long lasting, devastating health effects. Therefore, the public health workforce must be knowledgeable about trauma and its impact on child development.

The process of “curriculum mapping” was utilized to analyze the extent to which the trainings offered by some public systems and non-profit organizations in Philadelphia addressed the trauma-informed core competencies. With support and funding from the Stoneleigh Foundation, a collection of mappings were generated over the course of 12 months to produce a cross-systems snapshot of trauma-informed trainings in Philadelphia. Mapping the trainings to the competencies revealed strengths and gaps in trauma-informed content and resulted in specific recommendations for improvement to participating organizations.

Mapping the competencies also promoted interprofessional training. Professionals in child welfare, public health, education, and medicine maintain their own distinct vocabulary and practices. However, the presence of childhood trauma is a common theme and each field offers continuing education for their professionals. This mapping process transcended the divisions among these fields and Multiplying Connections promoted trainings that addressed multiple core competencies, so that professionals of various backgrounds could learn together.