Implementing Regional Medical-dental Integration Projects in a Pandemic: Successes and Challenges

Session Description: Purpose: The session will describe the Networks for Oral Health Integration (NOHI) program funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to develop, implement, and evaluate models for delivery of preventive oral health care for pregnant women and children within the maternal and child safety net during a 5-year period (2019–2024).
Goal: The session will provide a brief overview of the NOHI program; summarize the three NOHI projects’ structure, implementation approach; and share successes and challenges-to-date including adapting to COVID-19 pandemic challenges. This session will inform others implementing medical-dental integration projects and activities.
Content: Session will highlight the three regional NOHI projects’ work in community health centers across 12 states. All projects are implementing common strategies to enhance models of medical-dental integration, increase health professional’s oral health knowledge and skills of delivering preventive oral health services, and increase caregiver’s ability for goal-setting to improve oral health practices.