Since good oral health is essential to good overall health as well as to the prevention of oral disease and unnecessary suffering, oral health is a major concern of local public health agencies (LPHAs). A Guide for Developing and Enhancing Community Oral Health Programs (the Guide) is designed to help LPHAs develop, integrate, expand, or enhance community oral health programs.

LPHAs are well positioned to work with other community stakeholders to develop, integrate, expand, or enhance community oral health programs. Such stakeholders may include

• State and local government officials
• State public health officials
• Local public health officials and administrators
• Health professionals, including oral health professionals
• Community oral health coalitions and organizations
• Local nonprofit health agencies, organizations, and institutions
• Others involved with advocating for, planning, and implementing community oral health programs

The Guide is a companion document to A Model Framework for Community Oral Health Programs: Based Upon the Ten Essential Public Health Services (the Framework). The Framework is a policy document describing the integration of oral health into the 10 essential public health services that officially guide the membership of the National Association of County and City Health Officers (NACCHO). The Framework can be used to help ensure that oral health is included in LPHAs’ overall plan. The Guide walks readers through the steps needed to develop, integrate, expand, or enhance community oral health programs.

Although the Guide is organized by steps, the process of program development, integration, expansion, or enhancement is not necessarily linear. In some cases, certain steps may have already been completed—for example, mobilizing community support or assessing oral health needs and existing resources. Conducting several steps simultaneously is an option. It is important to build on and move ahead with what has already been accomplished.

The steps detailed in the Guide include the following:

1. Mobilize community support
2. Assess needs and existing resources
3. Plan the program
4. Implement the program
5. Evaluate the program
6. Participate in policy development and research

Throughout the Guide, resources related to each step are identified and described. Web site addresses are provided when available.