Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities

Background
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Bureau of Health Workforce, is accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities program. The purpose of this program is to help States develop and implement innovative programs to address the dental workforce needs of designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas (Dental HPSAs). The program aims to encourage and support State innovation that will increase oral health services for populations living in Dental HPSAs, support the strategic use of evaluation to improve program performance, assess program impact, and address the concerns and needs of key stakeholders and decision makers within the State, and develop ways to sustain programs that increase the accessibility and quality of oral health services within Dental HPSAs.

Grant Details
The grant will provide financial support for trainees, loan forgiveness and repayment programs for dentists who agree to practice in designated dental health professional shortage areas, dental recruitment and retention efforts, grants and low-interest or no-interest loans to help dentists who participate in the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish or expand practices in designated dental health professional shortage areas, establishment or expansion of dental residency programs in coordination with accredited dental training institutions in States without dental schools, programs developed in consultation with State and local dental societies to expand or establish oral health services and facilities in designated health professional shortage areas, placement and support of dental students, dental residents, and advanced dentistry trainees.
Continuing dental education including distance-based education, practice support through teledentistry in accordance with State laws, community-based prevention services such as water fluoridation and dental sealant programs.
Coordination with local educational agencies within the State to foster programs that promote children going into oral health or science professions.
Establishment of faculty recruitment programs at accredited dental training institutions whose mission includes community outreach and service and that have a demonstrated record of serving underserved States.
Development of a State dental officer position or augmentation of a State dental office to coordinate oral health and access issues in the State.
Additionally, activities designed to address opioid use disorder by advancing better practices for pain management and/or improving access to treatment and recovery services are allowed under this funding opportunity.
Activities designed to assess and/or address the impact of COVID-19 on the oral health workforce in underserved areas are also included.
Furthermore, activities to develop or improve dental therapy programs are allowed under this funding opportunity.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include Governor-designated State governmental entities such as the office of State’s dental director or a State-run university or dental school. In addition to the 50 States, eligible applicants include the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Private institutions are not eligible to apply. States are encouraged to work with tribal entities for greater consultation and coordination between State and tribal governments.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2026 (4 years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to availability of appropriated funds for Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities program in subsequent fiscal years.

Grant Value
The estimated total annual available funding is $12,800,000. Up to 32 grants may be awarded with an estimated annual award amount up to $400,000 per award subject to availability of appropriated funds.