DentaQuest invests $2.7M in phase II of Oral Health Initiative

The DentaQuest Foundation is implementing phase II of its Oral Health 2014 Initiative.

In the second year of this multiyear project, the foundation is investing $2.7 million, enabling 18 state organizations to implement their plans.

Launched in 2011, the Oral Health 2014 Initiative aims to eliminate systemic barriers that limit access to oral healthcare through strong community partnerships, according to the foundation. Participating organizations received one year of funding to engage their communities in the development of an oral health plan with specific targeted objectives.

In phase II of the initiative, each organization will work with their partners and community leaders to address one or more of the six priority areas, which also guide the U.S. National Oral Health Alliance:

1. Prevention and public health infrastructure
2. Oral health literacy
3. Medical/dental collaboration
4. Developing metrics for improving oral health
5. Financing models
6. Strengthening the dental care delivery system

The organizations being supported during the 2014 initiative are the University of Alabama, Arizona Dental Foundation, Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board in California, Oral Health Colorado, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Florida Public Health Institute, the New Jersey and Pennsylvania chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, North Dakota Department of Health, Oregon Oral Health Coalition, Maryland Dental Action Coalition, Michigan Oral Health Coalition, Mississippi Department of Health, Rhode Island Kids Count, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, Virginia Oral Health Coalition, Children's National Medical Center (Washington, DC), and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services.