The Maternal and Child Health–Improving Oral Health Integration (MCH-IOHI) Project is a collaborative effort with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services’ Oral Health Program (OHP), MORH/AHEC, the Montana Primary Care Association, Montana State University’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, OneHealth, Ag Worker Health and Services - FQHC, Proyecto Salud clinics, and Northern Cheyenne school-based clinics.

MCH-IOHI partners recognize unique opportunities to close oral health gaps in Montana communities through new dental technologies, workforce, and delivery models. Dental technologies such as silver diamine fluoride (SDF) provide non-dentist providers with a tool to arrest the progression of decay and prevent future dental disease using a non-invasive, affordable technique.

Creating the MCH-IOHI alliance will be the first time Montana embarks upon a comprehensive, statewide oral health literacy campaign in alignment with established partners that support integration of oral health.

 

student applies fluoride varnish image of Blackfeet Early Learning Center sign student applies fluoride varnish

 

 

Smiles for Life Training Opportunity

The Smiles for Life curriculum addresses the nature, prevalence, and consequences of oral disease throughout the life cycle with a focus on correlations between oral and systemic health. Health care professionals will learn their role in preventing oral disease, addressing frequently encountered oral problems, and working as part of an inter-professional team to promote oral health.

 

If you are a health care professional, student, or in a related field, you are able to take a minimum of six modules and receive a stipend! Each person is eligible for one stipend, for modules completed after July 1, 2024. 

 

Access to Smiles for Life modules:

  1. Go to Smiles for Life - Montana Office of Rural Health & Area Health Education Center
  2. Choose “Enroll Now” and complete the registration.
  3. You will be sent an email to join the online learning platform.
  4. When you enter the platform, click Modules:
    1. You may navigate to modules by selecting the “Modules” tab on the lefthand side and then scrolling to the “Online Trainings” section.
  5. If you complete six modules of Smiles for Life curriculum you can receive a stipend $250 from the Montana Office of Rural Health/Area Health Education Center. Please submit your certificates and information here: MCH-IOHI - Smiles for Life Stipend Form

 

Questions? Contact Sydney Hunsaker at sydney.pearce@montana.edu

 

The Montana Oral Health Equity Alliance is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, or endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit www.HRSA.gov.