Primary care associations (PCA) from Alaska, California, Iowa, and Tennessee will receive grants through DentaQuest Foundation's Strengthening the Oral Health Safety Net initiative.
PCAs in Arizona, New Hampshire, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania have already received grants, according to the foundation.
PCAs support safety-net programs at community health centers.
The DentaQuest initiative isa national grant program established in 2011 to expand the capacity of safety-net dental programs in the U.S. to increase oral health services and improve oral health.
Here are the four state/regional PCA partners that were selected in the competitive process:
- The Alaska Primary Care Associationis receiving a $100,000 grant to promote oral healthcare integration with primary care services that serve the healthcare needs of thousands of uninsured and underserved Alaskans.
- The California Primary Care Associationis receiving a $100,000 grant to elevate oral health and dental practice issues, and expand participation in national, statewide, and regional oral health workgroups and advisory groups.
- The Iowa Primary Care Associationis receiving a $100,000 grant to connect with other state and national partners, enhance skills at the local level, and cultivate a culture of quality within the oral health dynamic in Iowa's federally qualified health centers.
- The Tennessee Primary Care Associationis receiving a $99,648 grant to create an oral health program and a dental workgroup with representatives from community health centers.
Each state/regional PCA receives grant funds plus direct practice improvement technical assistance for safety-net dental programs, provided in-kind by the DentaQuest Institute's Safety Net Solutions team, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the DentaQuest Foundation.
