An assessment of the client-centered planning approach in continuing education for public health professionals

This paper reviews the concept of client-centered planning as an approach to program development for continuing education in public health. Client-centered planning is aimed at the identification of individual practitioner needs and the development of educational interventions tailored to improve competency in selected areas. This paper presents the essential elements of client-centered planning and examines findings from continuing education programs in public health conducted by the Center for Continuing Education of Public Health Professionals at the University of Michigan. The Center model is presented as one approach to program planning. As such, protocols for needs assessment, program planning, implementation and evaluation developed according to client-centered theory serve as a baseline for improved program planning for use by instructors and agencies.