Reflections on core competencies in Black health and addressing anti-Black racism for global public health education and practice
1
Black Health Education Collaborative, Toronto, Canada
2
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
3
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
4
Ontario Health, Sudbury, Canada
5
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3518
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Anti-Black racism is a structural and social determinant of health that produces persistent health and social inequities—income, housing, employment, food insecurity, and overrepresentation in the criminal justice and child welfare systems—within Black communities globally.(1-3) These realities underscore the need for system-level public health interventions.(4,5) Public health competencies play a foundational role in workforce development through formal education, professional training, and continuing education. In 2025, the Black Health Education Collaborative developed the Core Competencies on Black Health and Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Public Health (CCBHPH) in Canada to articulate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to disrupt anti-Black racism and advance Black population health equity. Competency statements grounded in critical race theory were developed through a global literature review of existing competencies on Black health, and a three-round Delphi process to validate the initial competency set. These competencies were then adapted for public health and subjected to a second Delphi panel. The final framework comprises seven themes and 30 competency statements.
METHODS:
This workshop will present the competency set and engage public health practitioners, leaders and decisionmakers to adapt these competencies for a global public health context which responds to the realities of people of African descent globally. Using a World Café format, participants will review the themes and statements and provide feedback on relevance and applicability to other contexts.
RESULTS:
The workshop will produce a first draft of globally relevant competencies on improving Black health and addressing anti-Black racism in public health. Competencies will be circulated with interested participants for further review and published following broader engagement with global Black health experts.
CONCLUSIONS:
Public health systems have a moral and ethical imperative to address inequities experienced by Black communities. These competencies provide a foundation for public health education and workforce development but must be accompanied by structural, power-shifting interventions.
Anti-Black racism is a structural and social determinant of health that produces persistent health and social inequities—income, housing, employment, food insecurity, and overrepresentation in the criminal justice and child welfare systems—within Black communities globally.(1-3) These realities underscore the need for system-level public health interventions.(4,5) Public health competencies play a foundational role in workforce development through formal education, professional training, and continuing education. In 2025, the Black Health Education Collaborative developed the Core Competencies on Black Health and Addressing Anti-Black Racism in Public Health (CCBHPH) in Canada to articulate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to disrupt anti-Black racism and advance Black population health equity. Competency statements grounded in critical race theory were developed through a global literature review of existing competencies on Black health, and a three-round Delphi process to validate the initial competency set. These competencies were then adapted for public health and subjected to a second Delphi panel. The final framework comprises seven themes and 30 competency statements.
METHODS:
This workshop will present the competency set and engage public health practitioners, leaders and decisionmakers to adapt these competencies for a global public health context which responds to the realities of people of African descent globally. Using a World Café format, participants will review the themes and statements and provide feedback on relevance and applicability to other contexts.
RESULTS:
The workshop will produce a first draft of globally relevant competencies on improving Black health and addressing anti-Black racism in public health. Competencies will be circulated with interested participants for further review and published following broader engagement with global Black health experts.
CONCLUSIONS:
Public health systems have a moral and ethical imperative to address inequities experienced by Black communities. These competencies provide a foundation for public health education and workforce development but must be accompanied by structural, power-shifting interventions.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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