GRANT00306

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will implement a plan to decrease the number of children having a caries experience by 5%, increase the Oral Health Program's ability to evaluate and monitor programs, and increase the number of non-dental health care professionals receiving oral health core competency training, and overall, increase in the number of West Virginians receiving preventive services for a decrease in oral disease. Key measures of success include: development and implementation of a statewide surveillance system, involving the entire lifespan, with reporting to NOHSS; facilitating measurement of oral health accomplishments and identification of needs statewide across multiple demographics; hiring a statewide dental sealant coordinator to manage and expand school-based sealant programs; hiring a fluoride specialist to support public water fluoridation efforts; increased medical/dental collaboration statewide, with medical providers applying fluoride varnish and non-dental state licensing boards mandating oral health continuing education.