New from OHRC

The following news and resources are featured by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC).

Each month, Spotlighted Resources offer a quick view of similar key oral health materials in the library. Every month, we feature one item in the newsletter and link to the page on our site, and we also link to Spotlighted Resources on our home page. Contact us to submit a resource for consideration.

Arkansas Oral Health Plan 2023–28

This plan produced by Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Oral Health presents four interventions aimed to improve the oral health of Arkansas residents during the period 2024–2028. The interventions focus on four areas—access, education, prevention, and policy. The plan also discusses threats to oral health; the building blocks of oral health; and the burden of oral disease on children, adolescents, adults (including older adults), and special populations.

Get Ready: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

National Children's Dental Health Month unites those who work to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their families, and many others. OHRC has compiled a page of resources to increase awareness, for example:

OHRC's website can be used to locate materials in its digital library, explore topics related to oral health for the MCH population, and share resources for consumers and resources for professionals.

OHRC is a partner in the National Center for Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety funded by the Office of Head Start.

• Subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter Resources to Make You Smile!
• Browse oral health resources on the Head Start website

Visit American Dental Association’s page to download oral-health-education posters in English and in Spanish and activit to share with families to promote the importance of oral health in February and throughout the year. 

Think Spring: Register for the National Oral Health Conference

Beat the January brrrrr by looking ahead! The National Oral Health Conference is April 7–9 (plus weekend workshops), in Orlando, FL. Early bird registration ends January 31; note that ASTDD associate membership is open to anyone interested in dental public health. When you’re there, please visit OHRC’s booth in the exhibit hall to say hello and catch these sessions from OHRC consultants:

Monday, April 7

• 10,000 People Turn 65 Every Day: What Oral Health Policies Are Needed?; Harry Goodman, speaker
• Implementation of Dental Diagnostic Codes in the Safety-net Clinic of Virginia: A Pilot Program; Ericca Facetti, speaker

Tuesday, April 8

• Improving Access to Critically Needed Oral Health Care Through SDF - A Case Study: American Samoa; Ohnmar Tut, speaker
• Improving Oral Health Outcomes in Head Start: A Collaborative Approach; Kathy Hunt, speaker
• Teledentistry in Schools: An Innovative Way to Expand School-Based Health Programs; Ericca Facetti, speaker

Wednesday, April 9

• New Tools, Tips, and Tricks for School Sealant Programs; Ericca Facetti, speaker
• Optimizing Recruitment and Retention of Oral Health Providers in Safety-Net Settings; Candace Owen, speaker

In the News

Age One Dental Visit Webinar

The age one dental visit is a cornerstone of early oral health care, setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits. Explore the essentials of the visit and key steps for its success in a webinar co-created by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and the ADA on Thursday, February 6 from 7–8 pm ET. An expert panel will also address common misconceptions and share practical tips to help providers, patients, and caregivers have a positive and effective experience. Register.

CMS Funding Announced in Fifteen States to Improve Maternal Health Care in a Whole-Person Approach

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the new Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) model, a 10-year project in 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. TMaH is the newest CMS model designed to focus exclusively on improving maternal health care for people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. The model will support participating state Medicaid agencies in the development of a whole-person approach (that includes oral health) to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care that addresses the physical, mental health, and social needs experienced during pregnancy. The goal of the model is to reduce disparities in access and treatment.

Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign Resources

The Connecting Kids to Coverage campaign has features a variety of targeted resources to use in outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats. Visit the oral health initiative page to encourage families to use the oral health services covered through Medicaid and CHIP. This includes social copy, videos, and print materials and an archive of the 2024 oral health webinar focusing on the connection between oral health and mental health. Several materials are available in 24 languages. Some of the materials can be customized with your organization’s contact information. The customization guide provides instructions.

The campaign also partners with Bright By Text, an organization that shares free tips with parents based on their child’s age and location. Share this free resource with families—parents can sign up for English, Spanish, or Arabic language texts.

Connecting Kids to Coverage Notice of Funding Opportunity

CMS has announced the Connecting Kids to Coverage Notice of Funding Opportunity. The Outreach and Enrollment Cooperative Agreement program provides funding to reduce the number of children who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and to improve retention of eligible children, parents, and pregnant women who are enrolled in the programs. This funding opportunity makes available $66.3 million ($8.29 million in American Indian/Alaska Native grants funds and $58 million for broader grants) in cooperative agreements, up to $3 million, for a five-year period of performance to achieve these goals. Join CMS for an applicant information session on the Notice of Funding Opportunity and the Outreach and Enrollment Cooperative Agreement program on February 13. Please send all questions to [email protected].

• See also, Medicaid and CHIP Renewals Outreach and Educational Resources

Minority Colleges, Universities, and Community Colleges Technical Assistance Initiative Federal Grants Bootcamp

Learn how to apply for and manage current and future Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants. HRSA’s Minority Colleges, Universities, and Community Colleges (MCU-CC) Technical Assistance (TA) initiative is hosting a Federal Grants Bootcamp to help community-based organizations (CBOs) understand, apply for, and manage federal funding. Minority colleges, universities, and community colleges play an important role in diversifying the health care workforce and strengthening the career pathway for the next generation of health care providers. The goal of the MCU-CC TA initiative is to increase the organizational capacity of minority colleges, universities, and community colleges to provide services to HRSA’s underserved populations. This five-day (2-4:30 pm ET, February 3–7) bootcamp is free and focuses on the unique needs of CBOs. Current and prospective HRSA grantees from CBOs are encouraged to register and attend.

Resources About Fluoride and Why It Matters for Individual and Community Health

Safe levels of fluoridation make a big difference in individual and community health outcomes. The Public Health Communication Collaborative has developed social media images and messages and a fact sheet, Fluoride: What it is, and Why it Matters for Individual and Community Health. Share this resource to increase understanding of the benefits of fluoride and additional ways to maintain oral health.

Oral Health Learning Café

OHRC's Oral Health Learning Café is an informal, supportive space for professionals to engage with others about integrating oral health and primary care. From September 2024 through January 2025, representatives from each of the five programs included in the report, Integrating Oral Health Care into Primary Care: Five Successful, Long-Standing, Statewide Programs Providing Care for the Maternal and Child Health Population presented to the Café. On March 13, there will be a guided discussion on key elements of success informed by those programs. Visit our website to register for future programs. You can also subscribe to the discussion list to receive announcements about upcoming webinars and the monthly Integration Alert.