Assessment of Successes, Challenges and Strategies for Sustainability: Perspectives of Collaborative Partners of School-based Oral Health Services Project

The North Vallejo School-Based Oral Health Project is in the final year of a 4-year comprehensive oral health services project funded by HRSA whose aim is to provide improved access to oral health services for underinsured children aged 0 to 18 living in Vallejo, California. The project integrates oral health with primary care services at a school-based health center by providing preventive and restorative dental care, community outreach, oral health education, and referrals to community dentists. The aim of this study is to assess issues related to project success and sustainability from the perspectives of principal collaborative partners. In December 2014 open-ended questionnaires were completed by individuals representing six stakeholder organizations to assess principal accomplishments, barriers/challenges to implementation and recommendations for project sustainability. Key components responsible for project success included the quality of staff interactions with ethnically diverse families and the comprehensive services provided including increased access to a wide range of oral health education, preventive services and referrals for more intensive services. Location of the oral health clinic in a school setting increased access to many children. Challenges included sharing information between partners and maintaining partnerships over time, integrating oral health activities into the school program and communicating the importance of oral health with families with little to no experience receiving oral health care. Recommendations related to sustainability included developing strategies for maintaining and enhancing collaboration with school district and community partners and creating sustainable funding mechanisms to allow for continued ability to maintain and expand program services.