Project Overview
In collaboration with the Delta Dental of Virginia Foundation, the Virginia Department of Health, and Department of Education, Virginia Health Catalyst will facilitate a collaborative learning opportunity with dental safety net clinics through education, support, technical assistance, and school partnerships in order to start new school-based oral health programs (SBOHP). Participating dental safety net clinic staff will attend monthly, 60-minute virtual learning sessions, covering:
- Best practices in school-based oral health care
- Quality improvement strategies and tools
- Data collection, tracking, and outcomes measures
- Implementation guidance (consent forms/caregiver engagement, services, equipment and space, scheduling/logistics, care coordination)
- Communication and coordination among school and clinic teams and follow-through
Each clinic will be paired with a local school and school nurse to help with SBOHP implementation; school nurse partners will join in the latter part of the project.
All participants will have access to a private space on the Catalyst website for tools, resources, and a material list with all necessary items for successful execution. Continuing education credits will be provided for participating school nurses and dental professionals.
Anticipated outcomes of the project include:
- Replicable strategy for clinics and schools to implement SBOHPs
- New, sustainable SBOHPs that operate with strong collaboration between dental clinics and school nurses
- Enhanced partnership among school nurses, and dental safety net clinics
- An increase of 1,000 children that receive oral care in the school year
Project Commitments & Timeline
Participating dental clinics agree to:
- Attend every monthly meeting (at least one clinic staff representative)
- Implement a new school-based oral health care program within 12 months
- Collect and provide data monthly to Catalyst
- Provide preventive and restorative dental care, including dental sealants
- Work towards achieving specific measurable goals
- Spend funds appropriately before August 15, 2022
- Communicate regularly with Catalyst staff including phone calls, e-mails, and meetings
February 2022
Project begins, kick-off meeting
March-July 2022
Monthly 60-minute meetings
August 2022
SBOHP implementation presentation
September-November 2022
Monthly 60-minute office hours
December 2022
Clinic and school nurse final presentations
Example of a project budget
Funding Availability
The Virginia Department of Health will fund two dental safety net clinics up to $20,000 each for participating in this project and developing a SBOHP. Funding will begin once a fully executed contract is in place and must be spent by August 15, 2022.
This funding will support:
- Infrastructure
- Supplies and equipment (i.e. portable equipment, software, etc.)
- Administrative support
The funding will not support:
- Direct care
Eligibility
Eligible sites must be a dental safety net clinic or a non-profit dental clinic in Virginia. Your site may already have a SBOHP, which you are interested in expanding to other schools, but it is not necessary. It is also not necessary to have established relationships with schools in your area; this project will help you make those new connections.
Application & Review Process
Click the button below to fill out the short application by January 15.
All submitted applications will be reviewed by Virginia Health Catalyst staff. The review process may involve a phone conference or interview with applicants on a case-by-case basis, though it may not be required. A maximum of two dental safety net clinics will be selected for this cohort.
