1. HRSA Grant Awarded in July 2015
“Innovative Pathways to Advanced Practice for Dental Hygienists: Meeting the Needs of Minnesota's Underserved Populations”
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number D85HP28494 Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene for $1,660,032. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, not should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the US Government.

2. HRSA Grant Emphasis: Workforce
Advancing the role of the dental hygienist to expand the reach of oral health care to vulnerable, underserved, and rural populations.

3. Grant Partners

4. Additional Support & Funding
Provided funding for needs assessment data for HRSA proposal
Support and supplemental funding for HRSA grant activities

5. Goal 1: Strengthen the Collaborative Practice Infrastructure
Increase the number of collaborative practice agreements between licensed dental hygienists and dentists.
Increase the number of dental hygienists pursuing and obtaining a baccalaureate degree in preparation for collaborative practice opportunities.

6. Goal 2: Access to preventive and primary
Goal 2: Access to preventive and primary health care services is made available to more members of underserved populations, especially in Greater Minnesota  
Expand the Normandale/Metro State simultaneous AS/BS Dental Hygiene educational pathway to all MN State two-year campuses with dental hygiene programs.
Replicate the DT/ADT program at one MN State two-year college dental hygiene program in Greater Minnesota.
Increase the number of rural sites at which DHs and DT/ADTs can practice in MN.

7. Goal 3: Educate a workforce that is better
Goal 3: Educate a workforce that is better prepared to provide high-quality oral health care to diverse and underserved populations 
Modify curricular components related to health literacy, diversity, and cultural differences.
Update educational methods.
Recruit and retain qualified students, especially from underrepresented populations.

8. Goal 4: Maximize the opportunity that
Goal 4: Maximize the opportunity that Minnesota has to provide leadership in creating innovative workforce models
Hold quarterly information sessions on collaborative agreements and advanced dental therapy at different areas around Greater Minnesota.
National leaders in innovative models for other states