A practical approach to implementing the core competencies in a child and adolescent psychiatry residency program

Objective: The authors describe the development and implementation of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's core competencies in a child and adolescent psychiatry residency program. Methods: The authors identify the program's organizational approach and participants and detail various strategies and methods of defining, describing, and utilizing the core competencies, with an emphasis on using practical, easily employed techniques within existing systems and structures. Results: Using this approach to developing and implementing the core competencies was effective and accepted well by the participants. Conclusions: Existing program structures and systems can be used successfully to develop and implement the core competencies in a residency program.