Establishing Community Linkages Jane Grover DDS MPH Dental

“Establishing Community Linkages” Jane Grover DDS MPH Dental Director Center For Family Health Jackson, Michigan janegdds@comcast. net

Strategy/Ideas • A. Define the problem • Lack of access to oral health services • 1. Who lacks access? • 2. “Profile” of dental community • 3. Existing programsformal/informal • 4. Who else wants a dental program?

Strategy Implementation • B. Design the Solution • 1. State Dental Association • 2. Local Dental Society • 3. Local Specialists • 4. Dental Schools

You Gotta Believe • WHO do you believe in? 1. American Dental Association 2. Dentist to Dentist relationships 3. Dental Schools 4. Legislators 5. People who want to help

Where to Begin • What do you believe? 1. Oral health is important 2. Oral health services are important 3. Knowledge of oral health is limited 4. Desperate times are not for the timid

Value of ADA Membership • Should dentists belong to the ADA? • YES YES • Why? • • Relationships Legislative Activity Quality Assurance “Team” resources

Community Relationships • Service organizations • “It was the best money we ever spent” • Dental Societies • City Council Meetings • County Board Meetings • Faith Based Organizations • Hospital Community---ER especially • State Public Health Community

Dental Partnerships • Dental Schools • Department Chairs • Outreach Programs • Just plain students

Legislative Pals • • • Town Hall Meetings Fundraisers Honorary Chairs for GKAS Day Phone Banks Guest appearances at a dental school Relationship to organized dentistry

Media Relationships • Cable TV • Newspaper “Thanks to all our friends” • Radio “Here’s the new Spinbrush”

Partnerships- A beautiful thing