1801-13745

This investment supports the Critical Learning Systems (CLS) to continue to develop and refine a comprehensive Oral Health Needs Index (OHNI). This interactive online tool, which defines oral health needs of a community in the context of health equity and social justice, will assess oral health needs without having access to oral health clinical or small area data. Specifically in Year 3, CLS will enhance, expand, and sustain a national resource to increase access to timely and meaningful oral health data and resources to achieve health equity; identify and engage national partners to analyze, report, and utilize nationwide dis-aggregated data to expand on the pilot version launched in the state of Florida; and leverage existing and emerging partners and tools to develop a sustainable financing model for collection and analysis of data. Utilizing the GIS mapping technology, CLS will overlay key oral health indicators that capture oral health outcomes for different communities based on data that includes access, clinical care, outcomes, behaviors, and environment. The selected indicators will include data at the national, state, and county levels, and will be retrieved from national sources including but not limited to the Center of Disease Control Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the Health Resources and Service Administration, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. Beginning with disaggregated data from Florida, the proposed project will aim to produce a methodology that can be replicated in communities across the country as a means of visibly delineating pockets of oral health disparities. Specific systems outcome to be addressed is the development of an oral health measurement system. The proposed project aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of improving the public perception of the value of oral heath to overall health and the target that by 2020, oral health is increasingly included in the health dialogue and public policy. $160,596 will support staffing and consultant services needed to implement this project.