Oral Health 2014

The NH Oral Health Coalition, in conjunction with its fiscal sponsor the NH Public Health Association, was selected to join the DentaQuest Foundation family of grantees for its Oral Health 2014 Initiative.

Selected in the second cohort, the NHOHC received a $100,000  planning grant in May 2013, aimed at leadership development in the areas of oral health public health infrastructure and prevention, and improving the oral health delivery system.  The NHOHC functioned as the lead convener of a diverse group of oral health stakeholders exploring the potential of increasing access to the underserved by means of deploying public health dental hygienists through an existing in-state infrastructure.  As NH does not have a formalized state or county public health department delivering services, the group explored existing systems that might be viable for the purpose, e.g. public health networks, community health centers, counties, etc.

In conjunction with the planning grant, local educational and information gathering sessions were held throughout the state exploring the role of the public health dental hygienist and existing systems.

The NHOHC is also pleased to announce that it was awarded a $150,000 implementation grant in  February 2014. The NHOHC will continue to act as a lead convener of a diverse group of oral health stakeholders to explore barriers identified in the planning year to deploy public health dental hygienists.

Further information on the 2014 Oral Health Initiative through DentaQuest is available at: www.dentaquestfoundation.org.