Objectives: Data collected by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Oral Health (DOH) and the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health (UIC-SPH) identified the lack of an adequate supply of community oral health dentists and dental hygienists as a major access barrier to oral health prevention and control programs in Illinois. This project brought together stakeholders from the private and public sector to address this identified need. Methods: The Administrator for HRSA’s Bureau of Health Professions and the Field Coordinator and Dental Consultant for HRSA’s Midwest Field Office, the Project Director Illinois Center for Workforce Studies, Deans from Southern Illinois School of Dentistry and UIC-SPH, the Chair of Pediatric Dentistry Chair UIC School of Dentistry, the President of Illinois State Dental Society, IDPH’s Division of Oral Health, Office of Epidemiology and Health Systems Development, and Centers for Rural Health were brought together to review both data and the analysis. The group interest in working together to solve the problem was also discerned. Results: Participants agreed that each group held a vital piece of an infrastructure that, when put together in a systematic fashion, could result in the assurance of an adequate supply of community oral health professionals. Immediate strategic results include: (1) dental public health faculty recruitment for schools of dentistry and public health; (2) funding for dental manpower supply and demand analysis; and (3) the development of a blue-print for action that addresses strategies and action steps required for the development of a sustainable infrastructure.
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will aquire information on the development of a state's response to community oral health manpower needs and the development of a blueprint for action to address those needs. 2. Participants will be able to: understand the need for appropriate data collection; understand the need for collaboration; list appropriate federal,state,and local stakeholders required for the development of a coordinated response to community oral health infrastructure development. 3. Learning objectives: 1.identify appropriate data sources 2. identify federal, state and local stakeholders. 3. identify elements of a blue print for action to address community oral health workforce needs
Keywords: Public Health Infrastructure, Oral Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.