Prevention Talk # 5 - Professionalizing the Prevention Workforce: What Will It Take?

Growing a professional prevention workforce is a longstanding and evolving challenge. The recent articulation of a science foundation to prevention planning and programming has highlighted the need to establish the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to deliver highly effective prevention to communities around the world. Although there has been great progress in gaining recognition for professionalizing the field of prevention, there has been a long history of barriers to overcome. The limited recognition of prevention as a career option and a deficit in degree programs focused on prevention science and practice create early disadvantages. Furthermore, once professionals are working in the field, salary limitations, inadequate supervision, and limited advancement opportunities impede individual and systems development. Limited diversity within the prevention workforce and a lack of cognizance of prevention expertise and prevention credentials among other professionals, organizations, and communities create barriers, as well. Despite these challenges, prevention is increasingly valued among…