Delta Dental of Missouri – the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a non-profit organization – recently awarded more than $500,000 in Workforce Development grants to seven organizations to promote the growth of a diverse dental workforce and expand access to oral healthcare in rural and minority communities. Each funded organization is developing innovative programs for high school and college students and/or working-age adults from underrepresented racial, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds to introduce them to and prepare them for career paths in dental health professions.
Delta Dental of Missouri’s Workforce Development grants awarded in the state include the following:
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services – Office of Dental Health in Jefferson City received $100,000 to develop a dental assistant pilot program in high school career centers, enabling high school juniors and seniors to earn a Dental Assistant certificate and advance to earn Expanded Function Dental Assistant certificates.
- Missouri Primary Care Association in Jefferson City received $99,998 to create a dental assistant training program in four rural Federally Qualified Health Centers and develop resources to promote oral health careers to high school students in rural areas.
- Central Ozarks Medical Center in Camdenton received $100,000 to establish a dental assistant training program.
- Northeast Missouri Area Health Education Center, Inc. in Kirksville received $40,000 to incorporate oral health science activities into its summer programming for youth in grades 6 to 12. The grant will also be used to develop scholarship programs, mentorship opportunities and outreach efforts in rural and underserved communities.
- Missouri Highlands Health Care in Ellington received $39,200 to host dental day-camps and develop mentorship programming and other means to educate junior and senior high school students about oral health career paths.
Delta Dental of Missouri also does business in South Carolina and awarded $99,633 to the Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina Foundation, and $21,500 to the Columbia-based Deeper Than Dentistry organization.
“Driving a diverse oral health workforce is critical to advancing oral health equity,” said Rob Goren, president and chief executive officer at Delta Dental of Missouri. “We’re proud to partner with these organizations to help support and inspire underrepresented students of all ages to become vital dental care professionals. Investing in the future of our dental workforce will help people from all backgrounds live better lives through improved dental health and overall health.”
A recent report from the Oral Health Workforce Research Center found that improving racial and ethnic diversity among the nation’s dental health professionals is crucial for reducing the disparity in access to care and health outcomes and to better address the oral health needs of an increasingly diverse population.
The goal of Delta Dental of Missouri’s grant program is to address three key dental workforce challenges, including:
- Lack of access to care in low-income and rural communities designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
- Decline in the dental workforce, which raises concerns about the adequacy to address oral healthcare needs statewide, and
- Lack of diversity in the dental workforce and access to care in minority communities.
Delta Dental of Missouri’s funding aims to also support students pursuing a dental health profession, including dentists, hygienists and dental assistants with a focus on underrepresented minority communities and individuals living in rural Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
About Delta Dental of Missouri
Delta Dental of Missouri is the state’s leading dental benefits provider and a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. It provides more than 2.1 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area—available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.
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For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314)436-9090