G-2303-18063

The Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) delivers tools, training and support to help Community Health Centers and their patients thrive.

Within this proposal, IPHCA proposes to utilize funding continue their work expanding the oral health workforce through multiple avenues including Dental Assistant (DA) training development, promotion of oral health career ladders and upskilling staff, and the development of trainings to enhance awareness on the importance of integrated services.

First, IPHCA will expand their “Grow your Own” Dental Assistant program from four pilot clinics to an additional three to four community health clinics. This program was launched with CareQuest Institute funding in 2022 and supports CHCs to train existing staff to become dental assistants. IPHCA will also host educational opportunities for its network of clinics. This will involve a continuing education conference around emerging issues in dentistry, a CHC Clinical Leaders Training Institute course related to integration and interprofessional practice, and a new learning series for oral health providers to learn and spread best practices related to treatment of patients with disabilities. In addition, IPHCA will continue state level advocacy for community health worker certifications and reimbursement of services provided by CHWs. IPHCA will share learnings from all of these activities through national network participation and also through the creation of a podcast.

IPHCA shares several methods for community engagement as it relates to project and organizational work. IPHCA regularly convenes community health clinic staff to share the specific oral health issues faced in their specific local, clinic environment. IPHCA also deploys several needs assessment surveys. IPHCA is also heavily collaborating with community-based organizations and local health departments in their work to expand the Community Health Worker workforce.

The budget requested represents less than 1% of the organization's overall budget. Budget line items include $35,000 allocated toward staff time, $20,000 in sub-grants to CHCs participating in the Dental Assistant training program, and an additional $30,000 for training costs related to the disability learning series, dental director trainings, and Clinical Leaders Training Institute. The remainder of the budget is associated with communications costs and evaluation. The budget form indicates more than full budget match from IPCHA for project work.