Although oral health objectives for the nation have been included in Healthy People initiatives for two decades, efforts to embrace and ultimately achieve them at the state and community levels have been variable. This deficiency can be explained in part by findings from a recent report by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and the Surgeon General's Report, Oral Health in America, which show that the public health infrastructure for oral health is insufficient to address the needs of underserved groups and that the integration of oral health and general health programs is lacking. To help address these inadequacies, an Oral Health Toolkit has been developed. Based on the Healthy People 2010 Toolkit, the Oral Health version includes seven chapters that cover infrastructure for oral health in the U.S., models for convening HP 2010 teams and coalitions; strategies to identify and leverage resources, engage partners, and gain commitment; how to set oral health priorities, establish objectives, and obtain baseline data; strategies for communicating oral health goals and objectives; ways to implement strategies; how to manage and sustain the process; and ways to measure progress. The "tools" of the Toolkit include worksheets, checklists, samples of models; resource and reference listings, and links to helpful Websites. This presentation will provide an overview of the Oral Health Toolkit and demonstrate its use. Copies of the Toolkit will be distributed.
Learning Objectives: To list the elements of the Healthy People 2010 Oral Health Toolkit. To describe ways the HP 2010 Oral Health Toolkit can be a resource in enhancing public health infrastructure.
Keywords: Oral Health, Public Health Infrastructure
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Handout (.doc format, 31.0 kb)