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The ASTDD Membership consists of the chief dental public health officer (state dental director) of the state health department or equivalent agency, and the U. S. Territories. ASTDD also offers Individual or Organizational Associate Membership which is open to any public agency, voluntary organization, tribal entity and/or health professionals employed or interested in dental public health. Members and Associate members serve on and chair committee's or work groups, receive the ASTDD newsletter, are enrolled on the ASTDD list serve, and participate in the ASTDD Annual Business Meeting held in conjunction with the annual National Oral Health Conference. Individual Associate member dues are $75.00 per year. Organizational Associate Membership dues are $400 per year.

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The Role of Health & Human Services and Its Agencies in Promoting Oral Health
This PowerPoint provides an overview of the federal agencies under Health & Human Services as well as their roles in promoting oral health. (October 2018)

The Role of the Federal Agencies and Regional Offices in Promoting Oral Health - During this "Take 20" from the Oral Health 2020 Network, Marcia K. Brand, Ph.D. who served in a number of positions within HHS throughout her career, most recently as the senior career official, Deputy Administrator, at the Health Resource and Services from 2009 - 2015, provided an overview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its structure, and how it supports oral health programs, research, and policy development. The presentation highlights key HHS offices and agencies and their oral health activities. In addition, the role of HHS's 10 regional offices was discussed. Preliminary information about the fiscal year 2018 appropriations for oral health activities, signed into law on March 23rd, was presented. Suggestions for engaging HHS officials and where to learn more about HHS and oral health were shared. (April 2018)
PowerPoint slides

Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start (ACF, OHS):

The Office of Head Start awards grants to public and private agencies on a competitive basis to provide comprehensive services to specific communities. Head Start grantees provide the services as described in the Head Start Performance Standards and in accordance with the Head Start Act of 2007. The Office of Head Start is responsible for oversight of these grantees, to ensure the performance standards are met and the best quality of care is provided to the enrolled children. In addition, some cities, states and federal programs offer funding to expand Head Start and Early Head Start to additional children within their jurisdiction.

AHRQ's mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans. AHRQ supports research that helps people make more informed decisions and improves the quality of health care services. The overall focus is: 1) Safety and quality: reduce the risk of harm by promoting delivery of the best possible health care; 2) Effectiveness: improve health care outcomes by encouraging the use of evidence to make informed health care decisions; 3) Efficiency: transform research into practice to facilitate wider access to effective health care services and reduce unnecessary costs.

CDC's mission is to collaborate to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health '?? through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. The mission of the Division of Oral Health is to prevent and control oral diseases and conditions by building the knowledge, tools, and networks that promote healthy behaviors and effective public health practices and programs.

Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS):

The mission of CMS is to ensure effective, up-to-date health care coverage and to promote quality care for beneficiaries. The CMS Strategic Action Plan objectives include: Skilled, committed, and highly-motivated workforce; Accurate and predictable payments; High-value health care; Confident, informed consumers; and Collaborative partnerships.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to maintain and improve their health. FDA also has responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors.

HRSA is an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the principal Federal Agency charged with increasing access to health care for those who are medically underserved. HRSA's programmatic portfolio includes a range of programs or initiatives designed to increase access to care, improve quality, and safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's most vulnerable populations. Currently there are 16 Offices and Bureaus, many of interest to dental public health professionals.

Indian Health Service (IHS):

The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are members of 566 federally recognized Tribes across the U.S.

National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR):

The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to improve oral, dental and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information. They accomplish their mission by: 1) Performing and supporting basic and clinical research; 2) Conducting and funding research training and career development programs to ensure an adequate number of talented, well-prepared and diverse investigators; 3) Coordinating and assisting relevant research and research-related activities among all sectors of the research community; 4) Promoting the timely transfer of knowledge gained from research and its implications for health to the public, health professionals, researchers, and policy-makers.

Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) Selected National Partner Organizations (June 2021)

ASTDD and states interact with and use resources from a number of national organizations, including the following.

AACDP supports the efforts of those with an interest in serving the oral health needs of vulnerable populations at the community level. Members include staff of city, county, and community-based health programs with an interest in oral health issues and access to care.

AAPHD provides a focus for meeting the challenge to improve oral health. Membership is open to all individuals concerned with improving the oral health of the public. AAPHD is committed to 1) Promotion of effective efforts in disease prevention, health promotion and service delivery; 2) Education of the public, health professionals and decision-makers regarding the importance of oral health to total well-being; and 3) Expansion of the knowledge base of dental public health and fostering competency in its practice.

The ADA is the world's largest and oldest national dental association, representing about 152,000 member dentists. ADA is committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards.

ADEA is the leading national organization for dental education. Members include all U.S. and Canadian dental schools, advanced dental education programs, hospital dental education programs, allied dental education programs, corporations, faculty, and students. The mission of ADEA is to lead individuals and institutions of the dental education community to address contemporary issues influencing education, research, and the delivery of oral health care for the improvement of the health of the public.

ADHA is the leading national organization for the more than 120,000 registered dental hygienists (RDHs) in the United States. The mission of the ADHA is to advance the art and science of dental hygiene by ensuring access to quality oral health care, increasing awareness of the cost-effective benefits of prevention, promoting the highest standards of dental hygiene education, licensure, practice and research and representing and promoting the interests of dental hygienists. ADHA has a Council on Public Health.

American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH):

The American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) was created in 2015 to promote and disseminate evidence-based health promotion practices to advanced education students and practitioners in dental public health. AIDPH serves as a platform for creative programming that centers health equity as a cornerstone of oral health education and training.

American Network of Oral Health Coalitions

ANOHC members are statewide oral health coalitions that promote lifelong oral health by shaping policy, promoting prevention and educating the public. ANOHC exists to create a reliable place for state oral health coalitions to share information, ask questions, and leverage time and resources.

APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. Oral Health is one of the 24 Sections that APHA members can choose to join. The Oral Health Section's members seek to promote oral health to a larger, multidisciplinary audience, partner with other human service providers, integrate oral health with overall health, have input into environmental and health care delivery issues, and disseminate research findings to the largest possible audience.

Association for Dental Safety (ADS):

ADS is dedicated to promoting infection control and safety policies and practices supported by science and research to the global dental community. OSAP is committed to identifying, developing and supporting leaders in dental infection prevention and patient safety. This includes educators, trainers, consultants, company representatives and all who share OSAP's vision of safe dental care for people everywhere.

AMCHP is a national nonprofit organization primarily of the directors and staff of state public health agency programs for maternal and child health, and children with special health care needs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and eight additional jurisdictions. In addition to state public health leaders, AMCHP members also include academic, advocacy and community-based maternal and child health professionals, as well as families. AMCHP builds successful programs by disseminating best practices; advocating on their behalf in Washington; providing technical assistance; convening leaders to share experiences and ideas; and advising states about involving partners to reach our common goal of healthy children, healthy families, and healthy communities.

ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO's members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice. ASTDD is one of 17 affiliates of ASTHO.

Campaign For Dental Health

A consumer friendly resource, The Campaign for Dental Health (CDH) was created to ensure every American has access to the most affordable and most effective way to protect teeth - water fluoridation.  The website, hosted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has been designed to answer the most common questions about fluoride, highlight interactive tools and resources, and features new content/news to help further the message of the importance of community water fluoridation.

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health

The CareQuest Institute is a nonprofit committed to building a future where every person can reach their full potential through optimal health.

Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.

The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a nonprofit health policy resource center dedicated to improving health care access, quality, and cost-effectiveness for low-income populations. It works with state and federal agencies, health and dental plans, providers, and consumer groups to develop innovative programs that better serve beneficiaries of publicly financed care, especially those with complex, high-cost needs. CHCS works with state and federal partners and other stakeholders to foster new opportunities for improving oral health access and delivery for Medicaid beneficiaries. They have an oral health section of their website.

Henry Schein

Henry Schein is a Fortune 500 company that provides healthcare (including dental) products and services. Through their consultants and advisors, Schein helps providers deliver quality health care to patients, efficiently operate and grow practices, and increase financial return and financial security. Schein's Charter includes: furthering humanitarian relief and disaster response; increasing access to health care among underserved populations; strengthening wellness programs and volunteer activities; enhancing health care advocacy and education. They provide a number of services to special markets.

MSDA's mission is to contribute to the optimal oral health of state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program beneficiaries by developing, promoting, and promulgating evidence- and best-practices-based state and national Medicaid/CHIP oral health policies and practices.

NACDD is a national public health association, founded in 1988 to link the chronic disease program directors of each state and U.S. territory to provide a national forum for chronic disease prevention and control efforts. NACDD works to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the American population by advocating for preventative policies and programs, encouraging knowledge sharing and developing partnerships for health promotion.

National Association of Local Boards of Health

The National Association of Local Boards of Health (NALBOH) informs, guides, and is the national voice for boards of health. In today's public health system, the leadership role of boards of health makes them an essential link between public health services and a healthy community. Uniquely positioned to deliver technical expertise in governance and leadership, board development, health priorities, and public health policy, NALBOH strives to strengthen good governance where public health begins-at the local level.

The National Association of School Nurses supports the health and educational success of children and youth by developing and providing leadership to advance school nursing practice by specialized registered nurses. NASN has 50 Affiliates in 48 States, the District of Columbia, and Overseas. (NASN has an Oral Health Connections website that links school nurses to oral health and wellness resources.)

The purpose of the OHRC is to respond to the needs of states and communities in addressing current and emerging public oral health issues. OHRC supports health professionals, program administrators, educators, policymakers, and others with the goal of improving oral health services for infants, children, adolescents, and their families. OHRC collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies; national and state organizations and associations; and foundations to gather, develop, and share quality and valued information and materials.

NNOHA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization representing a nationwide network of dental providers who care for patients in Migrant, Homeless, and Community Health Centers. NNOHA's mission is to improve the oral health of underserved populations and contribute to overall health through leadership, advocacy, and support to oral health providers in safety-net systems.

National Network of Healthcare Hygienists

National Network of Healthcare Hygienists (NNHH) is a 501c (3) professional support organization for Registered Dental Hygienists who have a desire to see oral health integrated into healthcare systems. They offer resources and certificate programs in areas of medicine to support RDHs working in integrated settings, educating teams and patients, developing oral systemic prevention programs, and consulting with healthcare systems.

National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

NOSORH promotes the capacity of state offices of rural health to improve health care in rural America through leadership development, advocacy, education, & partnerships. The general purpose of each SORH is to help their individual rural communities build health care delivery systems.

National Public Health Information Coalition

The National Public Health Information Coalition is the premier network of public health communicators in the United States and U.S. territories. The group is committed to "making public health public" by sharing knowledge, expertise and resources to effectively communicate about the important health issues of the day helping people lead healthier lives in healthier communities.

School-based Health Alliance:

The School-Based Health Alliance works to improve the health of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care. Our vision is that all children and adolescents are healthy and achieving at their fullest potential.

SCDA has a wide ranging membership that includes: dentists, dental hygienists; dental assistants; non-dental health care providers; health program administrators; and others. SCD had its origin in a federation of three long standing independent organizations: the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. SCDA has reorganized and now is comprised of the Council of Hospital Dentistry (previously, the American Association of Hospital Dentists, AAHD), the Council of Dentistry for People with Disabilities (previously, the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities, ADPD) and the Council of Geriatric Dentistry (previously, the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry, ASGD).