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Creative Community
Strategies Increase Access to Dental Care
Fall 2005
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Communities throughout Iowa are
addressing the challenge of providing access to dental care. The Access
to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) program of the Iowa Department of
Public Health is proving to be the most promising program in Iowa for
building infrastructure at the local level. Through this program, Title
V child health agencies are funded to increase access to dental care for
Medicaid-enrolled and other low-income children. In 2003, a Health
Resources Service Administration (HSRA) grant provided funding to
develop an enhanced “ABCD-E” program to address collaboration with
community partners, coalition-building, and the development of education
and care coordination systems. Below are four ABCD-E programs that offer
excellent examples of such collaboration.
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Cedar Valley
Oral Health Initiative (CVOHI)
Black Hawk
County Buchanan County
Bremer County Grundy County |
Black Hawk
County Health Department
Rhonda Bottke
319-291-2413
rbottke@cfu.net |
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This Waterloo-based county health
department reconvened the Cedar Valley Oral Health Initiative, a group
originally established in 2001 out of a common concern for unmet oral
health needs in their area. Although in place, the CVOHI had lost
momentum in carrying out its strategic plan. ABCD-E funding was used to
hire a facilitator to assist the task force to meet more regularly and
complete the action steps of their plan. The group has successfully
identified oral health resources, developed a coordination system, and
is providing additional services in a central location, developing an
oral health plan for the general public, and creating an education plan
for professionals and caretakers. Ongoing collaboration continues among
CVHOI, EPSDT care coordination staff, local dental offices, Head Start
nursing staff, and Healthy Child Care Iowa nurse consultants.
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Mid-Sioux
Opportunity, Inc.
Cherokee
County Plymouth County
Ida County Sioux County
Lyon County |
Cindy Harpenau
712-786-3417
charpenau@mid-siouxopportunity.org |
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Recognizing the steadily increasing
number of Hispanic families in their area, Mid-Sioux Opportunity chose
to address language barriers in their community. A Spanish interpreter
was hired to assist with the oral health education services at schools
and with dental care coordination visits for families. In addition, a
dental hygienist presented oral health information to community groups.
Although acquiring a bilingual staff person with dental expertise has
been a challenge, feedback has been very positive. Oral health education
outreach continues by the dental hygienist.
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Volunteer Care
Network (VCN)
Scott County |
Scott County
Health Department
Contact: Tammy Uskavitch
563-336-3131
tuskavitch@davchc.com |
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Finding dental homes for Scott County
children is being accomplished by the development of the
Volunteer Care
Network (VCN), a group of volunteer dentists who have signed agreements
to provide treatment to uninsured and underinsured patients.
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Unity Health
System
Muscatine
County
Louisa County |
Contact:
Jeannine Gothard
563-263-0122
jgothar@unityiowa.org |
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Unity focuses on outreach and education
through continuing dental education programs for area dentists,
hygienists, and assistants. Their goals are to build partnerships with
area dental practices, increase awareness of public health resources in
the community, and develop cooperative referral agreements with area
dentists. Courses are scheduled at convenient times and locations, and
as an additional incentive offer continuing education credits.
Attendance continues to grow; dentists who have not yet participated are
invited by personal phone call. Some participants have since agreed to
assist with a dental clinic serving low-income children in Muscatine. Efforts are ongoing to partner with community
groups and encourage dentists to accept referrals.
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To learn about other community
activities addressing access
to dental care, please contact the
Iowa Department of Public Health
Oral
Health Bureau
515-281-3733
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