Turning competencies for state oral health program practice into reality

As a next step to more closely tie the 10 Essential Public Health Services to Promote Oral Health in the US and the Guidelines for State and Territorial Oral Health Programs to workforce development and oral health program capacity building, The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) developed competencies for State Oral Health Program Practice. While many other public health competencies were reviewed, these are modeled after ones developed for Chronic Disease Program Practice. They cover seven domains: 1) Build support, 2) Plan/Evaluate programs, 3) Influence policies and systems change, 4) Manage people, 5) Manage programs and resources, 6) Use public health science, 7) Lead strategically, and reflect eight overriding principles. Levels of attainment from minimal competence to higher levels are outlined. Competencies also can be applied to local oral health programs with some adaptations. Every individual working in an oral health program need not be proficient in each competency. The competencies represent those skill sets that a state oral health program should have access to whether they are present in staff or are obtained from other programs or outside sources. This presentation will discuss how the competencies were developed and vetted and how they can be used for public health system planning and evaluation, strategic planning, position descriptions and interview questions, professional development plans and courses, program and individual performance measurement.