C. Design the Program
2. Identify Funding Resources
An essential component of planning is identifying
and mobilizing needed resources. It is critical to determine
what is genuinely
feasible—financially, programmatically, and politically.
Therefore, it is important to establish a projected budget
for needed resources before conducting a search for resources.
In addition to financial support, there are other
categories of resources that can assist with developing, integrating,
expanding,
or enhancing a community oral health program. One such category
is assistance with the process of obtaining financial support.
Certain individuals or agencies may be able to obtain initial
core funding for the program. Other resources include the
expertise
of professionals and consumers; the influence that can be brought
to bear on decision-makers and funders by local media, advocacy
groups, community residents, and leaders; and contributions
of physical space, staff time, training opportunities, and materials.
Specific sources of funding for services include
- State public health agency budget
- Federal and/or state oral health grants
-
Title V Maternal Child Health Block Grant (federal funds provided
in a block grant to state’s department of health)
-
Prevention Block Grant (federal funds provided in a block grant
to the state’s department of health)
- National, state, and local foundations
- Community service organizations
- Local businesses (e.g., dental supply companies, health and dental
insurance carriers)
- Third-party payers (e.g., Medicaid, SCHIP)
A critical source of financial
support is health insurance reimbursement, including that available from both
private and public programs
such as Medicaid and SCHIP. Medicaid is a significant
source of funding for oral health services, especially for children
and adolescents.
Opportunities
to Use Medicaid in Support of Oral Health Services is
a manual that includes a discussion of the EPSDT program,
services for children with special health care needs,
services in federally
qualified health centers, and school-based health services.
General information about Medicaid and SCHIP is also available. It is
important to learn about and understand the intricacies
of the Medicaid program as they affect the delivery of
oral
health services. Reviewing the state Medicaid plan’s policies pertaining
to oral health, and discussing these with the state Medicaid
director, is useful as well.
When seeking funding, it is vital to be able to
document the need for the proposed program and to have a detailed
program
plan and
budget. Information about budgeting and finances can
be found in the Safety
Net Dental Clinic Manual.
The American Dental
Association has developed a report on innovative Medicaid program
that summarizes state
by state approaches to improving children’s
access to oral health care. Other
information about financing oral health services and oral health
initiatives by state, as well as
policy briefs, has been
compiled by the Children’s
Dental Health Project.
Often,
the key to obtaining adequate resources to support
programs is staff’s ability to weave together
various funding streams and community resources.
The W.
K. Kellogg Foundation has initiated
several community-based oral health programs
that were able to blend various funding streams
to enhance oral health service delivery. These
programs
include Kids Get Care,
Washington; Apple Tree Dental, Minnesota; and Community
DentCare, New York.
Also available from the National
Oral Health Policy Center
are
the following documents:
Raising awareness about oral disease in the community,
mobilizing community support, and coming up
with a practical plan to
address problems are all key to obtaining ongoing
financial support.
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