OPENWIDE: an innovative oral health program for non-dental health and human services providers.
Emerging awareness of the nature and severity of oral diseases and disorders and their serious impact on overall health and well-being, combined with a nationwide crisis in access to oral health care for populations with the most and worst disease, makes it imperative that non-dental health and childcare professionals engage more fully in oral health promotion and disease prevention. OPENWIDE is a comprehensive training program designed to help achieve this goal. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has trained more than 2,000 individuals during the first year of the OPENWIDE program. This article reports on successes and impediments to training and implementation encountered in the early stages of OPENWIDE and makes recommendations to improve the curriculum and its delivery to families and children.
Wolfe
Stanton H
SH
Division of Public Health and Community Services, Department of General Dentistry, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. stanton.wolfe@tufts.edu
Huebner
Colleen E
CE
D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003237:Connecticut; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003752:Dental Health Services; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D040441:Health Educators / Q000193:education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009909:Oral Health; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D000078329:Workforce