Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry

The purpose of the Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene programs is to improve access to and the delivery of oral health care services for all individuals, particularly low income, underserved, uninsured, min

The purpose of the Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene programs is to improve access to and the delivery of oral health care services for all individuals, particularly low income, underserved, uninsured, minority, health disparity, and rural populations by increasing the supply of a qualified dental workforce and enhancing dental workforce education and training. This is addressed through the implementation of the following programs: 1) Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene; 2) Postdoctoral Training in General, Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry; and 3) the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program.

Eligible applicants include accredited schools of dentistry and dental hygiene, postdoctoral training programs in general, pediatric, or public health dentistry that have programs in dental schools, or approved residency or advanced education programs in the practice of general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, or dental public health. Public or non-profit hospitals, or other public or private not-for-profit entities including faith-based and community-based organizations, community colleges, as well as Tribes and Tribal organizations, are eligible provided they are otherwise eligible and the Secretary has determined they are capable of carrying out such grants.

Beneficiaries include a full range of trainees: dental or dental hygiene students, dental hygienists, dental residents, practicing dentists, and other approved primary care dental trainees and dental faculty.

1) Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric or Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene: Grant funds may be used to support professional training programs: 1) to plan, develop, and operate or participate in approved professional training programs in the fields of general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, or public health dentistry for dental students, dental hygienists, and/or dental hygiene trainees that emphasize training for general, pediatric, or public health dentistry; 2) to meet the costs of projects to establish, maintain, or improve predoctoral training in primary care programs; and 3) to provide technical assistance to primary care training programs in developing and implementing instruction regarding the oral health status, dental care needs, and risk-based clinical disease management of all primary care populations with an emphasis on underserved children. 2) Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program: Grant funds may be used to support professional training programs: 1) to plan, develop, and operate a dental faculty loan repayment program for faculty engaged in primary care dentistry to include general, pediatric, and public health dentistry and dental hygiene with preference given to pediatric dentistry faculty supervising residents at dental training program providing clinical services in dental clinics located in dental schools, hospitals, or community-based affiliated sites; 2) individual participants must agree to serve as full-time faculty members; and 3) upon completion by an individual of each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years of service, the program will pay an amount equal to 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 percent, respectively, of the individual's student loan balance owed at the initiation of the agreement.

Indirect costs under training awards will be budgeted and reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement, and are not subject to upward or downward adjustment. Funds may not be used for purposes specified in HRSA's SF424 R & R Application Guide or for construction or renovation.

These funding opportunities provides support for a 5-year project period.

Procedures for assessing the technical merit of grant applications have been instituted to provide an objective review of applications and to assist the applicant in understanding the standards against which each application will be judged. Critical indicators have been developed for each review criterion to assist the applicant in presenting pertinent information related to that criterion and to provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Competing applications are reviewed by non-Federal expert consultant(s) for technical merit recommendations. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: (1) Purpose and Need; (2) Response to Program Purpose; (3) Impact; (4) Organizational Information, Resources and Capabilities; and (5) Support Requested. See the most recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for detailed selection criteria.

Notification is made in writing (electronic) by a Notice of Award.

Approximately 120 to 180 days after receipt of applications.

Depending on Agency priorities and availability of funding, during the final budget year of the approved project period competing continuation applications may be solicited from interested applicants.