R-2403-20456

Bėl Souri, Bellas Sonrisas (Beautiful Smiles), is a collaborative initiative by the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Department (NCHPDD), Borinquen Medical Center (BMC), and eight elementary public schools in Miami-Dade County. The project aims to improve access to dental care for recent immigrant children from Latin American and Caribbean countries, who are currently facing significant challenges due to unfamiliarity with the healthcare system, difficulties in securing dental insurance, cultural adaptation, parental education, transportation issues, and limited numbers of dentists serving children and participating in the Medicaid program.

NCHPDD will employ a two-pronged approach: enhancing the skills and knowledge of school-based nurses in oral disease assessment, application of preventive therapies, and appropriate referrals; and maximizing the safety net’s capacity through a designated Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC). The CDHC will connect children with unmet dental needs to BMC, NCHPDD, and insurance plans managing the Medicaid dental program in Florida.

The Bėl Souri, Bellas Sonrisas initiative will intersect and address oral health inequities facing BIPOC, rural, low-income, and other under-resourced communities by aligning the educational settings, primary - BMC - and tertiary care - NCHPDD - providers and DMCOs. The CDHC will link stakeholders and ensure increased access and enhanced outcomes for the target population. NCHPDD will assemble a dedicated team of partners, including NCHPDD’s mobile dental program, nurse practitioners working at school-based health centers, and BMC. NCHPDD’s mobile dental unit will provide bi-annual visits to diagnose and treat oral health issues. Ultimately, the goal of Bėl Souri, Bellas Sonrisas is
improved quality of life for recent immigrant children.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation (NCHF) is requesting $125,000 for this work, which is less than 1% of the organization’s overall budget. About $115,000 will be used to support medical staff, the remaining $10,000 will be used toward direct costs including educational materials, the CDHC Certification, and a social worker. This proposal is one of ten selected finalists for the School-Based and School-Linked Initiatives to Improve Oral Health RFP.