Maryland Dental Action Coalition Inc

DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO IMPROVED HEALTH AMONG ALL MARYLANDERS THROUGH INCREASED ORAL HEALTH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE.

AVA ROBERTS PEDIATRIC DENTAL SYMPOSIUM - MDAC WILL MANAGE THE ARRANGEMENTS AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANNUAL AVA ROBERTS PEDIATRIC DENTAL CONTINUING EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM. THE EVENT PROVIDES THE ORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND ENGAGE IN ORAL HEALTH TOPICS SUCH AS INFECTION CONTROL, PREVENTION OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH DENTAL AWARENESS, AND CHALLENGES IN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE MDAC AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ITS MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON ITS WORK, INCLUDING THE MARYLAND ORAL HEALTH PLAN. AN AVERAGE OF 120 ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REGISTER FOR THE EVENT.

MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL COLLABORATIVE - THE MARYLAND DENTAL ACTION COALITION (MDAC) FORMED THE MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL COLLABORATIVE, COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, FQHCS, COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, TO HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE MARYLAND MEDICAID ADULT DENTAL PILOT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PREVENTATIVE, DIAGNOSTIC, RESTORATIVE DENTAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS EXTRACTIONS, TO APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MARYLAND ADULTS WHO ARE DUAL ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. THE PURPOSE OF THE MDAC COLLABORATIVE IS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT BY (1) ADDRESSING PROVIDER ENGAGEMENT; (2) REMOVING BARRIERS TO PROVIDER PARTICIPATION; (3) ENSURING ELIGIBLE ADULTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR BENEFIT AND ABLE TO ACCESS A PROVIDER; AND (4) HELPING ENSURE THAT SERVICES FIT THEIR ORAL HEALTH NEEDS.

HEALTHEFFICIENT A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER SAFETY NET PROVIDERS IN IMPROVING CLINICAL AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE DATA - WAS AWARDED A GRANT TO DEVELOP A NETWORK AND IMPLEMENT THE TRANSFORMING ORAL HEALTH FOR FAMILIES (TOHF) PROJECT. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEMONSTRATE A PROMISING MODEL OF FAMILY-CENTERED TEAM-BASED PRIMARY ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN 0-40 MONTHS, THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, AND PREGNANT WOMEN AT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS (CHCS) IN FOUR STATES/JURISDICTIONS INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, AND NEW YORK. GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO: (1) INCREASE ORAL HEALTH COMPETENCIES FOR ALL RELEVANT CHC PROVIDERS SERVING THE TARGET POPULATIONS; (2) INCREASE CHC CAPACITY FOR ORAL HEALTH CASE MANAGEMENT AND INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION TO BETTER ADDRESS ORAL HEALTH RISK FACTORS AND NEEDS OF THE TARGET POPULATION; AND (3) INCREASE THE PROPORTION OF CHILDREN 0-40 MONTHS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE ORAL AND OR DENTAL HEALTH CARE AND THE PROPORTION OF CHILDREN WHO ARE CARIES FREE AT 3 YEARS OF AGE. MDAC IS THE STATE JURISDICTION PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR MARYLAND.