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Dental Public Health Resources Committee

ASTDD is the principal voice in promoting the leadership capacity of state dental programs and the impact that their collective oral disease prevention and health promotion activities have on the nation's oral health. ASTDD works with a broad array of federal, state and local public and private partners to educate decision-makers on dental public health issues and concerns of state oral health programs. ASTDD develops and adopts a variety of documents including white papers, issue briefs and other dental public health resources statements to reflect the Association's priorities and stance on dental public health issues. These documents contain statements that may include recommendations, strategies, and/or information to assist decision makers (such as healthcare providers, federal, state or private agencies, employers, public health officials, or the public) in choosing between alternative courses of action in specific situations. The Dental Public Health Resources Committee's function is to oversee the creation of resource documents on various issues for submission to the membership for approval.

NOTE: Prior to December 2015, this Committee was called the Policy Committee and its documents were known as policy statements.

Committee Members

Committee Logic Model

Committee Work Plan

ASTDD Guidance for Drafting Dental Public Health Resource Documents - ASTDD has developed this guidance document to encourage consistency in developing evidence-based statements (such as white papers, issue briefs, fact sheets and other documents as well as Best Practice Approach Reports and State Activity Submissions and Descriptive Reports) by all ASTDD committees, consultants, and others including dental public health residents. ASTDD develops these documents for state oral health programs to reflect the Association's priorities and stance on dental public health issues and to share with and educate decision makers on dental public health issues and concerns of state oral health programs. The documents contain statements that may include recommendations, strategies, and/or information to assist decision makers (such as dental and other healthcare providers; federal, state or private agencies; employers; public health officials or the public) in choosing between alternative courses of action in specific situations.

Dental Public Health Resources Statement Development Protocol

White Paper Template

White Paper or Resources Statement Review Form

Guidelines for the Development of State Oral Health Issue Briefs

Sample DC issue Brief

What is the Defining Line Between Policy and Advocacy? - Has your program engaged in a discussion about how to "move the dial" in your state and then worried about what you can and cannot do to elicit changes? In this session, Ms. Nicole Johnson, CDC Division of Oral Health Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, and Strategic Communications, describes CDC's view of health policy, both formal and informal; and discusses the difference between providing education, policy development, and lobbying. She walks the audience through the federal language that addresses lobbying restrictions and explains what it means. Ms. Johnson also provided the audience with CDC resources that support policy development to promote health. (June 2018)
PowerPoint

Listed below are definitions for committee actions

Dental Public Health White Paper - A White Paper provides detailed background information and analysis of a broad policy-related issue through documenting and summarizing key findings and implications of appropriate evidence-based research and best practices, and may offer a statement of support and or recommendations for a course of action.

Issue Brief - An issue brief is a concise summary that outlines and discusses key findings, implications or significance, and programmatic considerations of a specific dental public health issue. It is usually longer and explores an issue in greater depth than a white paper.

Dental Public Health White Papers and Policy Statements

Issue Briefs

Links and Resources

Compendium of ASTDD Dental Public Health Resource Documents for State Oral Health Programs (March 2019)

Guidelines for the Development of State Oral Health Issue Briefs - questions to ask, major components of an issue brief, and lessons learned.

DC issue Brief - example of an issue brief for education/advocacy.

Using Oral Health Data to inform Decisions and Policy Development The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors developed this resource to  provide tips for the use and presentation of complex oral health data so that the information is understandable and meaningful for a non-dental audience. It also provides a list of resources ranging from a communications toolkit to developing a "plain English" document. (March 2019)

International Center for Oral Health Inequalities Research and Policy

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) develops policies and guidelines and advocates for programs that promote optimal oral health and health care for infants, children and adolescents, including those with special health care needs.  The Web site contains a section on definitions, oral health policies and clinical guidelines.

American Dental Association

  • The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages community health improvement, promotes the art and science of dentistry, and represents the interests of oral health professionals and the public.  The Web site contains an entire section on ADA positions, policies and statements.
  • The Advocacy section on the ADA Web site provides information on federal and state legislation and regulation, issues and actions.

American Dental Hygienists' Association
The American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) advances the art and science of dental hygiene, promotes standards of education and practice in the profession and provides professional support and education programs.  The Web site contains a section on Governmental Affairs that includes information about dental hygiene practice acts, advocacy, legislative tracking and ADHA position statements.

The American Public Health Association

  • The American Public Health Association (APHA) champions the health of all people and all communities, and is the primary voice for public health advocacy. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policymakers and health officials.
  • A number of APHA policy statements address specific health issues, often within specific populations. APHA's policy statement on Access to Integrated Medical and Oral Health Services, issued in November 2016, addresses the problem of poor access to medical, oral, and behavioral health care services among persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

  • Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
    The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) formulates and influences sound public health policy and ensures excellence in state-based public health practice. The members of ASTHO serve as the face and voice of state and territorial public health. The web site contains a section on Advocacy listing the ASTHO policy and position statements.

Children's Dental Health Project
The Children's Dental Health Project (CDHP) was created to serve as a unique national voice for children's oral health to bridge the gap between research and solutions by promoting public policies that support sustainable solutions.  CDHP formulates research-based, policy options and provides the technical assistance needed for advocates and policymakers to ensure that the oral health of children is a priority.  This website provides the most up-to-date information regarding legislation and any related policy activities and provides recommendations for advocates and policymakers to advance the oral health of all children and their families.

  • The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Policy Center at MCHB
    The National Oral Health Policy Center at the Children's Dental Health Project promotes the understanding of effective policy options to address ongoing disparities in children's oral health.  The three-year initiative has set out to map a course for improving family oral health by building knowledge and skills of professionals with the ability to steer systems changes.  The Policy Center focuses on building capacity and enhancing knowledge of policymakers and key stakeholders to promote effective oral health policies and on expanding the community engaged in promoting oral health.
  • TrendNotes

    TrendNotes October 2009
    Better Health at Lower costs:  Policy Options for Managing Childhood Tooth Decay

    TrendNotes April 2010
    Strategies for Sustaining and Enhancing Prevention of Childhood Tooth Decay during Challenging Times

    TrendNotes August 2010
    Opportunities for Preventing Childhood Dental Caries through Implementation of Health Care Reform

    TrendNotes May 2011
    Children's Oral Health in the Health Home

    TrendNotes May 2012
    Quality Improvement in Chiildren's Oral Health: Moving from Volume to Value

Division of Oral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Division of Oral Health works to prevent and control oral diseases and conditions and reduce disparities by building the knowledge, tools and networks that promote healthy behaviors and effective public health practices and programs.  The Division provides training, resource development and technical assistance to states to improve oral health.  CDC supports research to examine prevention strategies to assess effectiveness and efficiency and collects data to monitor oral health.

Healthy People 2020
Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) is a comprehensive set of disease prevention and health promotion objectives for the Nation to achieve by 2020. Created by scientists both inside and outside of Government, it identifies a wide range of public health priorities and specific, measurable objectives including an oral health topic area. Some oral health objectives are contained within other Healthy People topic areas.  Healthy People 2020 Objectives can be used to assist states in setting policy priorities.

National Academy for State Health Policy Oral Health
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is an independent academy of state health policymakers working together to identify emerging issues, develop policy solutions, and improve state health policy and practice.  NASHP provides a forum for constructive, non-partisan work across branches of state government on critical health issues facing states.  A section of this website is dedicated to oral health issues providing a variety of reports and policy options.

National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) is a bipartisan organization working to improve the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures, promote policy innovation and communication among state legislatures, and ensure state legislatures a strong, cohesive voice in the federal system.   NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues.  NCSL publishes policy statements on a variety of issues, including oral health.

National Maternal and Child Health Oral Health Resource Center
The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center responds to the needs of states and communities in addressing current and emerging public oral health issues with the goal of improving oral health services for infants, children, adolescents, and their families. The resource center collaborates with federal, state, and local agencies; national and state organizations and associations; and foundations to gather, develop, and share quality and valued information and materials.

Oral Health America
Oral Health America (OHA) works to improve oral health by educating and empowering communities to provide access to care and advocating for policies that create oral health parity.  Oral Health America connects communities with resources to increase access to care, education, and advocacy for all Americans, especially those at highest risk for oral disease. )

Pew Center on the States Children's Dental Health
The Pew Children's Dental Campaign is a national effort to help states increase access to dental care for low-income children who face significant challenges.  The Campaign uses research to bring critical issues to policymakers' attention and advocates in states to advance fiscally-sound policies and provide return on investment to taxpayers.  This website features a variety of reports on cost-effective solutions.

 

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