G-1811-14603

This investment will support the Oral Health Forum to continue the implementation of a school-based oral health program that integrates oral health education, on-site assessment, the delivery of basic preventive services, and a referral system that connects students with acute oral health needs to providers within their area. Through this partnership, OHF will continue its partnership with the Chicago Dept. of Public Health and Chicago Public Schools to expand the reach of this collaborative program and target schools that have demonstrated the highest need for oral health care. They will also leverage relationships with local partners and health systems to expand and strengthen referral networks, increase program sustainability and service delivery expansion, and support provider education through on-site internship opportunities. Finally, OHF will continue to evaluate program outcomes to assess the impact of their case management intervention model on children, families, and their communities. $85,800 will be used to support personnel and partner time associated with the implementation of the school-based oral health program and its outcome evaluation, communications and marketing materials developed in order to demonstrate the importance of oral health and the effectiveness of OHF’s approach to this work, local and national travel necessary to spread learnings and improve the processes necessary for this work, and administrative costs associate with this project’s implementation. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal of incorporating oral health into the primary education system and the target that, by 2020, oral health is incorporated into the school systems of the 10 largest school districts.