Performance Indicators Corresponding to the Critical Competencies in Children's Environmental Health

According to the World Health Organization, a clean, safe, and healthy environment is essential for children to develop and thrive. Environmental insults to human health and well-being take on many forms, including environmental contaminants, lack of sanitation, socioeconomic concerns, and climate change factors--to which children are at heightened vulnerability. Supportive interventions in children's environmental health will affect not only the future lives of children but also the lives of families and communities. Translating knowledge to action provides a path forward in efforts to protect children. The 12 critical competencies developed by Del Rio et al. (2023) outlined an interdisciplinary approach to grappling with environmental health threats to children. These associated performance indicators map the proficiencies needed for competent performance in the public health sector and accurate assessment of environmental threats to children's health. The performance indicators for each critical competency were developed and intended as a guide for education and training. Keywords: curriculum development, competency-based education, evaluation, training, maternal and child health, environmental health
Introduction Children have increased vulnerability and can develop short- and long-term adverse physical and mental health effects after environmental exposures, disasters, and emergencies (Clayton et al., 2023; Etzel & Landrigan, [...]