Infrastructure Development Tools

These resources are provided to assist directors of state oral health programs to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate oral health promotion and disease prevention efforts. The activities listed below describe key components of an effective oral health program. These elements have their foundation in the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) report, Building Infrastructure & Capacity in State Oral Health Programs–April 2000* (PDF–308K), and the Healthy People 2010 focus area: Chapter 21: Oral Health, and were refined based on CDC's work with states developing infrastructure and capacity.

CDC provides funding and technical assistance to help state and territorial health agencies develop and operate public health programs to improve oral health. Funds have been awarded to 20 funded states under Program Announcements 802 and 1012, State-based Oral Disease Prevention Programs. This approach promotes key program activities and components. Resources and tools developed in collaboration with funded states to build program capacity and infrastructure are being made available on this Web site for interested state and local programs. Tools are offered to aid those responsible for program planning and management, implementation, building of partnerships, and evaluation.

The following strategies to enhance state infrastructure are also shared with states through CDC's Web Conference Series.

Activity 1: Program Infrastructure–Staffing, Management, and Support

Activity 2: Data Collection and Surveillance

Activity 3: Strategic Planning–The State Oral Health Plan

Activity 4: Partnerships and Coalitions

Activity 5a: School-Based/School-Linked Dental Sealant Programs

Activity 5b: Coordinate Community Water Fluoridation Programs

Activity 6: Policy Development

Activity 7: Evaluation

Activity 8: Program Collaboration

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Success Stories Workbook
Impact and Value: Telling Your Program's Story offers public health program managers practical steps for creating success stories that highlight their achievements.

ASTDD Best Practices Project*
Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors and its members, through a cooperative agreement with CDC's Division of Oral Health, provide leadership in seeking best practices in dental public health. The ASTDD Best Practices Project helps build more effective state, territorial, and community oral health programs by promoting public health strategies that are supported by evidence of effectiveness.

Children's Dental Health Project*
The Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, advances policies that improve children's access to oral health care and preventive services. Established in 1997 as a strategic alliance of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Education Association, CDHP forges research-driven policies and innovative solutions by engaging a broad base of partners committed to children and oral health.

Oral Health America*
Oral Health America is a nonprofit organization that develops, implements, and facilitates educational and service programs to raise awareness of oral health's importance to total health. Its Communications Guide (PDF–141K) provides information on how to develop and distribute media outreach materials, including press releases, media alerts, talking points, fact sheets, and press kits.

One or more documents on this Web page is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print these documents.

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: March 12, 2012
Page last modified: March 12, 2012
Content source: Division of Oral Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion