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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rene Lavinghouze, MA, Claudia Vousden, RN, MPH, and Scott Presson, DDS MPH. Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy F-10, Atlanta, GA 30341, 7704886078, spresson@cdc.gov

Objective: To facilitate collaboration for the development of State Oral Health Plans through the identification and posting of current plans, the development of a review index tool to assist in assessing plans, and designing an evaluation template to promote plan evaluation. Methods: The CDC, in collaboration with state dental directors, has identified states that currently have a State Oral Health Plan. Existing plans have been posted on the CDC/Oral Health website to promote sharing of ideas across dental public health programs. An evaluation template was formulated. Plans and their content were reviewed in 2003 and 2005 to assess progress in expanding the vision for oral health programs. Results: Availability of plan examples and suggestions for developing comprehensive plans incorporating performance measures should promote the development of quality plans and their periodic revision to address the changing context of states. The evaluation template was designed to promote activities that can be tailored to the specific context of each state. It can be used to assess plan strengths and weaknesses, promote revision and maximum implementation, and gauge impact and reach. The review and content analysis of plans will be presented to highlight progress in public oral health program growth. Conclusions: Differences observed between plans reviewed in 2003 and 2005 highlight program growth and areas that still need attention in the expansion of oral health programs and accomplishment of goals outlined in the 2000 Surgeon General's Report and National Call to Action.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe state oral health program growth as portrayed through state oral health plans.
• To identify tools developed by CDC and funded states to facilitate the development, dissemination and evaluation of oral health state plans.

Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/oralhealth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered