Promoting oral health among the inner city homeless: a community-academic partnership.
Oral health care resources for the homeless are scarce, underfunded, and generally inadequate to meet the oral health needs of this population. The purpose of this program was to improve oral health among the urban homeless in a faith-based inner city mission through education, screening, and improved access to oral health care. The program provided for expanded delivery of oral health care services to the homeless while preparing students in the health professions for community-based practice with at-risk and vulnerable populations. By proactively addressing oral health needs through prevention and earlier diagnosis and treatment, morbidity, quality of life, and cost can be positively affected. Innovative, cross-disciplinary, community delivery models that involve key stakeholders at all levels are needed to address the oral health needs of the homeless and underserved adequately.
Lashley
Mary
M
Community Health Nursing, Towson University, 8000 York Road, BU116, Towson, MD 21252, USA. mlashley@towson.edu
D015142:Baltimore; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation; D003729:Dental Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008403:Mass Screening; D009909:Oral Health; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D008921:Religious Missions / Q000458:organization & administration; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000458:organization & administration; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data