Maternal and Child Health and Oral Health Integration Jared I. Fine, D.D.S., M.P.H. Dental Health Administrator Alameda County Public Health Department
3 Examples Oral Health Needs Assessment Oral Health Needs Assessment School Based Dental Sealant Program School Based Dental Sealant Program “Oral Health for Healthy Births” “Oral Health for Healthy Births” Access to Dental Care for High Risk Pregnant Women
Oral Health Needs Assessment: Rationale Local, current surveillance data Local, current surveillance data Educate community and policy makers Educate community and policy makers Resource Planning Resource Planning Evaluation of sealant and treatment programs Evaluation of sealant and treatment programs Advocacy in overcoming disparities Advocacy in overcoming disparities
Oral Health Needs Assessment: Methods Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Basic Screening Survey Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Basic Screening Survey 3,266 K and 3 rd grade students at 33 schools 3,266 K and 3 rd grade students at 33 schools Staff, volunteer Dentists, and Dental Hygienists Staff, volunteer Dentists, and Dental Hygienists
Oral Health Needs Assessment: Achievements Dental indicators for County Health Status Report Dental indicators for County Health Status Report MCH plan measures for sealants and access to care MCH plan measures for sealants and access to care Comparison to statewide needs assessment Comparison to statewide needs assessment Successful pilot for local implementation Successful pilot for local implementation Case finding for family education and referral Case finding for family education and referral
Why was this a successful collaboration? Public Health Department commitment to value of health surveillance Public Health Department commitment to value of health surveillance Strong relationships with schools, dental community, community partners, and families Strong relationships with schools, dental community, community partners, and families Federal matching funds from MCH through Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for program planning and coordination. Federal matching funds from MCH through Federal Financial Participation (FFP) for program planning and coordination.
Broadening to State Level? Emphatically Yes! Fulfills Title V mandate of comprehensive needs assessment Fulfills Title V mandate of comprehensive needs assessment ASTDD tools available, accessible and user friendly ASTDD tools available, accessible and user friendly Federal Financial Participation Funds when appropriate Federal Financial Participation Funds when appropriate Natural Strategic Partners such as : Natural Strategic Partners such as : Dental Health Foundation (non-profit), California DHS Office of Oral Health, California DHS Maternal and Child Branch, California’s EPSDT Program, California Dental and Dental Hygienists Associations
Integrating MCH and Oral Health Lessons Leadership Leadership Shared commitment Shared commitment Cooperation Cooperation Recognizing and respecting attributes of each partner Recognizing and respecting attributes of each partner Strategic relationships Necessary resources