GRANT00371

Support to the Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) as part of the DentaQuest Foundation Strengthening the Oral Health Safety Net Initiative. Iowa PCA has taken steps in recent years to establish and nurture a focus on FQHC oral health programs with the belief that the success and viability of the dental programs is critical to the overall strength of the health center program in Iowa. At the same time, they’ve seen increased attention at the policy level to issues of access to oral health care for underserved populations in Iowa and nationally. Iowa PCA efforts will bridge inward and outward facing strategies through connecting with other state and national partners, enhancing skills at the local level, and strengthening the capacity of the PCA to cultivate a culture of quality within the oral health dynamic in Iowa’s FWHCs. The need to integrate the components of primary care is understood and embraced by the Iowa PCA and its membership, though there are challenges in doing so, from their perspective. To ensure successes the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors is recommending that the oral health subcommittee become a full Board committee in order to advance the leadership and importance of oral health in the network. The Affordable Care Act providers opportunities to craft state level policies that can advance oral public health but careful interpretation and active participation is needed. Iowa’s FWYCs are the foundation of the safety net, and by working to shore up and maximize efficiency, their place in providing access to high quality oral health care will be maintained over the long term. The Iowa PCA and its FQHC executive and oral health leadership are very excited to embark on this work that will greatly accelerate the momentum created by early efforts and support the learning of new skills and knowledge that will enhance and firmly embed the role of FQHC oral health in Iowa.