1510-11539

This investment supports Montana State University (MSU) to engage members of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and discuss the barriers to oral health faced by their community and analyze the acceptability of silver fluoride as a pediatric treatment using a community-based participatory research methodology. Specifically, MSU will continue to build and maintain partnerships within the Northern Cheyenne community through community listening sessions; conduct focus groups to learn community attitudes and perceptions toward externally-developed oral health interventions; and design and implement a culturally-reflective message campaign co-created with tribal members. This area of Montana has very high rates of early childhood caries and, through ongoing engagement, stakeholders have reported traumatic and painful oral health experiences. With the emergence of silver nitrate as an effective, safe, and atraumatic treatment, it is critical that the network engage in a collaborative learning process to better understand the local people's perspective on this treatment. Leveraging MSU's experience with CBPR and relationship with this specific community will allow network members to gain insights into the use and importance of engaging the community in this work. Empowering participants in the ultimate development of a messaging tool or platform is a community-driven approach that will have great potential for a positive impact on individual and public health. $32,364 will be used to support personnel time to design and lead the CBPR methodology, conduct focus groups, and co-create a messaging tool; travel and the administrative costs associated with this work's implementation. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of eradicating dental disease in children, and the target that, by 2020, with the closing of disparity gaps, 85% of children reach age 5 without a cavity.