CDC-Previously Funded States

2003–2008 Cooperative Agreements

• Alaska now has a well-established fluoridation program management system. Recent achievements include improved tracking of fluoridation results, a statewide assessment of equipment needs, improved technical assistance to communities, and training for rural water operators on fluoridation techniques and benefits. The state is developing its first comprehensive statewide oral disease burden document using data from the first ever statewide oral survey of schoolchildren. The Alaska burden document will be published in 2007. In addition, two state oral health coalitions recently merged and have completed a draft of the state oral health plan that goes beyond Healthy People 2010 goals.
   
• Arkansas has a well-established statewide coalition, Smiles AR: US, that actively supports community water fluoridation, healthy snacks in schools, and more efficient methods for conducting oral health screenings. The state has developed a document describing the state burden of oral disease, implemented a state oral health plan, and continues to enhance its statewide oral disease surveillance system. Arkansas has obtained numerous grants from private foundations to support its Seal the State in 2008 project to provide sealants, including a grant of more than $200,000 from the Daughters of Charity and a grant from Oral Health America for supplies and equipment. The Arkansas program continues to promote expanding water fluoridation, training water plant operators, and monitoring the quality of fluoridation efforts, including periodic facility inspections.
   
• Colorado as part of its oral health surveillance system, has partnered with the state obesity program to collect body mass index data as part of the 2006 oral health survey of schoolchildren. The state continues to implement a preventive oral health program targeting high-risk children and adults. Colorado has hired a part-time evaluation specialist to conduct routine program evaluations to improve the program. The state coalition has a facilitator and administrative assistant. Colorado continues to make progress toward the Healthy People 2010 dental sealant objective by increasing the scope of its school sealant program and recently implemented CDC SEALS software to improve program management and measure program efficiency and effectiveness.
   
• Illinois has developed a statewide oral health surveillance system to collect and monitor data about the oral health of its residents. A published report of the burden of oral disease provides data on oral disease levels, disparities, and unmet dental needs. The program has established IFLOSS, a statewide oral health coalition that brings public and private partners together to work toward common goals. The state oral health plan is being revised and updated. The program has identified opportunities to work with policy makers to improve the oral health of state residents. One result is a legislative mandate that requires children entering school at kindergarten, second and sixth grades to have a dental examination. A fluoridation program data manager is coordinating with community partners to improve monitoring through the Water Fluoridation Reporting System. A dental sealant program coordinator assists communities with providing sealants for schoolchildren, and is planning to implement CDC SEALS software to analyze the cost-effectiveness of sealant programs.
   
• Michigan has an active statewide oral health coalition that has brought together public and private partners to develop a state plan addressing the state’s oral health needs. The coalition facilitates annual forums that provide networking opportunities and education. Coalition workgroups concentrate efforts around policy development, resources, assessment, and promotion. A survey of the oral health status of school children is complete and the report, Count Your Smiles, has been published. The data have been incorporated into a report on the burden of oral disease to be used for planning and policy development. Michigan’s program has succeeded in building state oral health infrastructure through program leadership, new coordination for fluoridation and school sealant activity, and epidemiology support.
   
• Nevada has completed the core components of infrastructure development and is moving into more advanced actions to promote oral health for all Nevadans using these valuable resources. The program has developed a state oral health plan with supporting regional and community action plans. Annual summits provide the opportunity for evaluating efforts and conducting strategic planning among the two large oral health coalitions and the smaller community and regional groups. The Clark County school system’s participation in the school-based and school-linked dental sealant program has increased the presence of sealants in children statewide from 33% in 2003 to 49% in 2006, nearly reaching the Healthy People 2010 objective of 50%. Nevada plans to continue expanding the reach and influence of its program to address oral health needs across the lifespan and promote the sustainability and institutionalization of the oral health program.
   
• New York has developed a county-specific surveillance system to monitor trends in oral diseases and dental services use, and has provided technical assistance and training to local agencies on oral health surveillance. In collaboration with key stakeholders, the state has developed a 5-year oral health plan and has established a statewide coalition to promote the importance of oral health and improve the quality of prevention programs. Through the coalition and in collaboration with the state of New York’s Center for Community Health and the Division of Family Health, the state also developed a new resource guide, Oral Health Care during Pregnancy and Early Childhood Practice. New York is conducting targeted inspections of fluoridation systems and is training water operators in system maintenance to enable them to improve systems to monitor fluoridation quality. The New York oral health program also will evaluate the state dental sealant program to assess causal attribution, geographic variation, program efficacy, and quality.
   
• North Dakota has recently hired a new oral health program director and an oral health program coordinator. It has developed a state burden document demonstrating the burden of oral disease in the state, and have worked through their oral health coalition to develop and implement a state oral health plan. In 2006, North Dakota held a statewide oral health summit to release its state plan and burden document. The state continues to improve its oral health surveillance system.
   
• Oregon has used a community-based process over a 2-year period to initiate and establish a state oral health plan. This process was finalized in 2006 with a statewide summit that developed priorities for action and formed the state oral health coalition. Oregon will be conducting its periodic statewide oral health assessment of schoolchildren in 2007. The oral health program has established a state oral health surveillance system. The program has been active in promoting community water fluoridation and is working to improve monitoring and reporting mechanisms through the CDC Water Fluoridation Reporting System. The state developed a strategic plan for implementing school-based or school-linked dental sealant programs. The program hopes to gain sustainability by introducing additional dental sealant programs to targeted schools and communities through a community readiness process.
   
• The Republic of Palau oral health program is participating in the Palau National Public Health Plan. The National Oral Health Plan will be integrated into the larger plan. Working groups representing dentists and dental auxiliaries have been created to determine the direction of workforce development in Palau. Providing dental services continues to be a challenge. Palau will maintain and update its Burden of Oral Disease Document. The program is an active member of other collaborations such as the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Group, Tobacco Free Coalition, Head Start Health Advisory, and Diabetes Collaborative. The program with the Division of Environmental Health conducted a water usage survey. This resulted in support for fluoridation of locally bottled water. The main water bottling company now sells fluoridated water.
   
• Rhode Island has increased program capacity and is working to improve program integration between oral health and primary care within the state health department. The program has partnered successfully with internal and external organizations to leverage resources and coordinate oral health activities. Examples include the expanding school-based and school-linked sealant programs, coordinating water fluoridation activities, disseminating information to water operators and the public, and strengthening the statewide oral health coalition. Program visibility has increased and dissemination of prevention information has been improved through a redesign of the program’s Web site. The program is developing a state oral health plan, oral disease burden document, and oral disease surveillance plan; completion of these documents is expected in early 2007. The program is incorporating evaluation into program activities to improve and sustain program efforts. It will conduct an oral health survey of schoolchildren during the 2006–2007 school year.
   
• South Carolina has recently hired a new state oral health program director and oral health program coordinator. It continues to support the collaboration of the South Carolina Oral Health Advisory Council and the Oral Health Coalition to establish and implement a 5-year state plan to address oral health policy, infrastructure, workforce, and access needs. South Carolina continues to strengthen its surveillance system and plans to use fluoridation data to help identify systems in need of inspection and equipment replacement through a mini-grant program. The state continues to expand public-private partnerships to provide sealants through school-based dental programs and has implemented an evaluation of the state school program initiative.
   
• Texas has developed its first-ever statewide, stakeholder-developed oral health plan and has begun to implement regular evaluation to ensure successful implementation. Increased capacity within the oral health program has allowed the program to broaden its partnerships and improve the state surveillance system to address oral health issues across the lifespan. Texas has established a statewide oral health coalition to address oral health disparities among Texans and is working to strengthen the coalition and promote its sustainability. The state plans to promote the growth of school-based and school-linked dental sealant programs and increase the capacity of the oral health program to monitor and expand community water fluoridation programs. The program has collaboratively developed and published its first comprehensive oral disease burden document.

Related Links

• Press Release: July 1, 2001
• Press Release: June 28, 2002

Historical Document
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion