The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50721

René Lavinghouze, MA¹, Kathleen D. Heiden, RDH, MSPH², Susan O. Griffin, PhD¹, and Scott M. Presson, DDS, MPH¹. (1) Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341, (2) Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health, 4770 Buford Highway, Mailstop F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341

Many states lack infrastructure to assess oral health needs and implement proven oral disease preventive programs. We describe the collaborative process utilized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health (DOH) to develop evaluation criteria for states participating in two cooperative agreement programs designed to improve state oral health program infrastructure. The first set of cooperative agreements were 4-year demonstration projects to foster oral health infrastructure development specific to school settings. Initial indicators of infrastructure were obtained from the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors’ infrastructure model. Additional data and input from the demonstration states were used to develop a performance model with five categories of weighted infrastructure indicators: human resources, surveillance and evaluation, capital equipment, linkages with partners, and advocacy. The preliminary model was refined using input from states funded in the second cooperative agreement program, now focused on core public health functions. At two workshops, the six grantees further developed the proposed indicators, which they categorized according to theme, weighted, evaluated for feasibility and sustainability, and prioritized. The proposed performance model was then reviewed by a broader group of stakeholders. This collaborative process provided DOH with local information that otherwise may not have been available to an external party and facilitated ownership and a collaborative focus from the various stakeholders that may influence program success. The process used resulted in evaluation criteria that may be more valid in measuring changes in infrastructure and may promote program success.

Learning Objectives:

• To list evaluation criteria developed for health program infrastructure
• To describe how collaboration can be utilized in developing indicators

Keywords: Evaluation, Public Health Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.