GRANT00278

Continued funding to the University of Maryland School of Public Health to support the Maryland Health Literacy Model to maximize health literacy to address the mismatch between demands of the healthcare system and the skills of those using and working in the healthcare facility. The quantitative and qualitative research performed by the Maryland Literacy Model project team is necessary to develop the content and knowledge of the most effective means of communicating the message to disparate populations. This process will provide a well-documented approach to informing caregivers of children about the prevention of oral health diseases to change their knowledge, opinions, and behaviors. The end product for this project will be an evidence-based set of data that will be used to support the design and implementation of the oral health awareness campaign for Maryland and leverages federal funding received by the state to develop the statewide campaign efforts. UMD will develop a network of champions to sustain this effort with the aim of increasing oral health literacy within the target populations. This model can then be used in any dental clinic and potentially could serve as a model for other diseases as well. These efforts will also support the development and implementation of policies in Maryland.