Overview Following the Workshop, the Department of Community Dentistry contacted participants and conducted an evaluation. Also, the Department is working on promoting future activities following the Workshop. Workshop Evaluation A summary of the comments of workshop evaluation received through the on-line evaluation are described in the following section. Forty-two percent of the participants responded to the evaluation. Strengths • Participants appreciated the organization of the workshop. They recognized that the advanced planning made the process run efficiently and effectively. • Small group discussions were well organized and facilitated. • They appreciated having information in advance of the workshop. • They liked the diversity of participants. • Information about the state of oral health care access in Texas and other states was educational. Weaknesses/Suggested Changes • Participants would have liked more involvement from high-level decision-makers, like state health officials, legislators, etc. One person also suggested more participation from Texas Department of Health. • Several suggested more time should have been allocated to the work groups and less time to presentations. One person also felt the size of the group was a barrier to accomplishing the planning task. • Several suggested more time should have been allocated to the work groups and less time to presentations. One person also felt the size of the group was a barrier to accomplishing the planning task. • A couple comments were made regarding group facilitation. While most comments indicated that participant felt group discussions were well facilitated, one participant felt the facilitator acted more like a participant and got too involved in the discussions. Another felt the facilitators were not consistent in how they ran the groups; specifically their facilitator only listed the three main strategies and did not include all strategies generated in the discussion (report from other groups included all strategies). Positive Steps • New strategies were identified. • The workshop facilitated networking among individuals and agencies involved in oral health care. Not Accomplished • No concrete plan for follow-up was developed during the workshop. This was not a goal however. • No individual or agency emerged to lead the initiative. The workshop organizers are therefore engaged in defining and, at least iniitially, carrying out such a follow up initiative. Other Comments Final comments were generally favorable, with participants reiterating the need for future networking/planning opportunities like this workshop. One person added the need for future initiatives to focus on (a) developing, maintaining, and sustaining high-quality community preventive services like water fluoridation and school dental-sealant programs and (b) methods of assessment and evaluation for oral health improvement planning. Future Activities As a result of the workshop the Department of Community Dentistry is involved in the following: • Developing a list serve of participants is being initiated to encourage correspondence on oral health issues throughout the state of Texas by workshop participants. • Preparing a website is being set up to present the workshop activities and the presentations by the selected speakers. • Participating in a grant proposal to set up a comprehensive oral health model in two school health clinics including assessment, treatment and evaluation. • Developing a matrix to collect information on statewide programs addressing the needs of oral health As a follow up to the workshop the final blueprint of the issues, strategies and infrastructures development was sent to the participants to record the issues they would take action on in the future. These activities are currently being recorded and tabulated. At this time the following have been recorded as possible future actions: Future Activities related to Education: • HRSA through the USPHS Regional Office is willing to co-sponsor a statewide Dental Summit to continue the planning and to begin implementation of parts of the strategic plan. HRSA is willing to contribute money and logistics support to co-host this summit. • Texas Department of Health will sponsor a statewide Dental Summit. • An Oral Health Strategic Planning Workshop is being planned at the University of Texas, Houston Health Science Center for October 2001. Issues relevant to oral health for children (0-16) will be addressed. • Incorporate disparities in Oral Health in required minority health class for undergraduate Health Education Majors • Teach Early Childhood Caries (ECC) screening to nursing students at UTHSCSA and integrate ECC screenings into well child exams done by nursing students in public health arenas • Integrate oral health issues into research generated from the Center for Community Based Health Promotion for Women and Children at UTHSCSA • Integrate ECC screening into research on determinants of child nutrition and growth • Link dental hygienists to nurse practitioners who have been successful in broadening the scope of practice • The El Paso Oral Health Commission will encourage dentists: to visit with physicians, attend medical society meetings, and to prepare articles for publication in the El Paso Medical Journal • The El Paso Oral Health Commission will consider adding a physician as a member and a Public Health Institute member. • Covenant Health Care System is willing to continue to interact with physicians at medical staff meetings and at peer review educational events to stress the importance of oral health in the total health care of the individual • If congressional support continues HRSA will continue to support dental residencies and training programs through grants to dental schools from the Bureau of Health Professions Future Activities related to Legislation/Public Policy • Continue meeting with state and local officials, as well as serving on local legislative committees to expand the scope of dental hygiene practice, and to improve Medicaid reimbursement and increase providers. We will also work towards obtaining funding for the oral health needs of the elderly. Future Activities related to Community Based Actions • Encourage participation of health care providers on coalitions addressing oral health issues. • Covenant Healthcare Systems is willing to assist other communities with input and expertise acquired from a community based health program for oral health that addresses care in rural communities and other areas. • As a member of the State Oral Health Advisory Committee Janet Bartlett will work with the committee to: • Incorporate disparities in Oral Health in required minority health class for undergraduate Health Education Majors o implement a pilot project to use school nurses for dental inspections and referrals of new students o advocate for state assistance to communities needing collaboratives to meet oral health o work for more Medicaid providers and to increase reimbursement fees o support fluoridation in communities where there is none • The State Oral Health Advisory Committee will:   o attempt to secure funding for adult indigent care in El Paso o identify and implement alternative strategies for community oral health needs o develop request for an adult oral health Medicaid waiver o invite students from Texas dental schools to extern at El Paso's Public Health Clinics o search for partnerships with El Paso businesses and hospitals for funding for dental vans for adult indigent care and for supplemental Medicaid reimbursement o look to other states for successful program models for ideas to improve oral health care