Saturday, September 30, 2023
9/30/2023
Project Director Name: Dr. Scott Tomar Contact Phone Numbers: 312-413-7365 Email Address: stomar@uic.edu Website Address, if applicable: https://dentistry.uic.edu/community-health/prevention-public-health/ University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry and Oral Health Forum (OHF) – a Chicago-based community not-for-profit organization – are partnering to deliver community-based oral care disease management and prevention services. The delivery model focuses on aggressive oral disease prevention and health promotion, with a primary focus on improving health outcomes. This collaborative effort seeks to reduce oral health disparities in the Pilsen community and to increase access to care for low-income families, especially children. The goals of the program are: (1) Provide prevention and early intervention oral health services, including nutritional and dietary counseling, caries risk assessment, periodontal maintenance, minimally invasive caries control, and tobacco use intervention; (2) Develop interprofessional education and experiences for students in UIC’s health profession programs, including Dentistry, Nutrition, Public Health, Nursing, and Social Work, to improve quality of life for residents of the Pilsen community. The Pilsen Clinic site is owned by the City of Chicago and has space that had once been a city-operated dental clinic. However, the dental clinic has not been used in many years is in need of repair, renovation, and equipment to be able to provide dental services. This grant will enable us to renovate the space, install new cabinetry and fixtures, furnish the dental office and oral health education room, and equip the three operatory rooms with new dental chairs and delivery systems. The main services to be provided at the site include: 1. Caries risk assessment and evidence-based caries prevention services such as fluoride varnish, dental sealants, prescription of high-fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinse s. 2. Periodontal maintenance 3. Minimally invasive caries control 4. Nutritional counseling 5. Tobacco use intervention, including counseling, pharmacotherapy, and appropriate referral 6. Referrals and linkages with social and health services A diverse network of UIC’s academic health programs and OHF will support patients in accessing a holistic system of care that incorporates dental, nutritional, social, and public health services. Health professional students will gain first-hand experience in working within interprofessional teams to meet the needs of the community.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
