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.
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.
