Project Grant T1246084

GRANTS TO STATES TO SUPPORT ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE ACTIVITIES - THE GOAL OF THE PACIFIC ORAL-HEALTH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITING YOUTH (POETRY) GRANT IS TO EXPAND ORAL HEALTH ACCESS BY 25% OVER THE COURSE OF THE GRANT BY CREATING A 'GLIDE PATH' TO ORAL HEALTH CAREERS, AND INTRODUCING TELE-DENTISTRY, VISITING DENTISTS AND LOAN REPAYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE PURPOSE IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM TO EXPAND DENTAL WORKFORCE AND SERVICES IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA BY 25% WITHIN 4 YEARS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH FOUR INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVE 1: SUPPORT YOUTH ALONG A 'GLIDE PATH' TO ORAL HEALTH CAREERS THROUGH EARLY INTRODUCTION, ONGOING MENTORING AND SUPPORT, LOAN REPAYMENT AND WAITING POSITIONS, RESULTING IN 50 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A YEAR APPLYING FOR DENTISTS AND DOCTORS FOR TOMORROW OR OTHER ORAL HEALTH TRAINING AND AT LEAST 5 BECOMING EMPLOYED ANNUALLY. OBJECTIVE 2: TRAIN 60 STUDENTS A YEAR IN ORAL HEALTH SKILLS RESULTING IN 5 NEW DENTAL PROVIDERS A YEAR NEWLY EMPLOYED. OBJECTIVE 3: EXPAND DENTAL SERVICES IN THE FSM BY 25% BY RECRUITING VISITING DENTISTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, INTRODUCING A COUNTRY-WIDE TELE-DENTAL NETWORK AND EXPANDING TELE-TRAINING. OBJECTIVE 4: CREATE A COUNTRY-WIDE ORAL HEALTH WEBSITE UPDATED REGULARLY TO DOCUMENT DENTAL WORKFORCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND, LOAN REPAYMENT, AND TRAININGS THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE A 25% DECREASE IN UNMET DENTAL WORKFORCE DEMAND. THE POETRY TEAM WILL WORK WITH THE DENTAL WORKFORCE TO BRING IN VISITING DENTISTS, STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS TRAIN DOZENS OF DENTAL WORKERS FOR THE REGION, AND CREATE AN ONLINE ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF THE ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE GRANT, POETRY WILL INCREASE THE WORKFORCE OF THE FSM BY 25% AND THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA, THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND PALAU.