[CareQuest Institute for Oral Health](https://www.carequest.org)

October 1, 2024 (project start)

$205,970 total; one-year project period

Supports policy, workforce, and Medicaid dental benefit advancement for oral health in Hawaii, in collaboration with key local organizations.

--- ## Description This grant supports the Hawaii Public Health Institute (HPHI) as the backbone organization for the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition (HOHC) to advance oral health policy, address dental workforce challenges, and implement Medicaid dental benefits in Hawaii. The initiative focuses on expanding Medicaid adult dental coverage, tackling dental workforce shortages, increasing access to care, and improving oral health outcomes for both adults and children. Activities include policy and advocacy work, capacity building, partnerships with organizations and state agencies, community oral health needs assessments, and advancing targeted oral health initiatives for school-age children. Collaboration with the Hawaii Children’s Action Network (HCAN) is central, particularly for policies affecting children’s oral health. --- ## Due Dates - Project start date: October 1, 2024 - Project end date: September 30, 2025 --- ## Funding Amount - Total funding available: $205,970 for the one-year project period - Includes $70,000 allocated to HCAN via subcontract - Funding supports staff time, coalition capacity building, advocacy, and community partnerships --- ## Eligibility - The grant is directed toward organizations in Hawaii involved in oral health policy, advocacy, and service delivery. - The Hawaii Public Health Institute (HPHI) serves as the lead/backbone organization. - Partnerships with the Hawaii Oral Health Coalition (HOHC) and Hawaii Children’s Action Network (HCAN) are integral. - Applicants must demonstrate capacity for policy development, advocacy, and coalition-building in Hawaii’s oral health sector. --- ## Application Process - Application details and requirements are provided on the [CareQuest Institute grant page](https://www.carequest.org/content/g-2405-21768). - Applicants should prepare a proposal outlining their strategy for advancing oral health policy, workforce development, Medicaid dental benefit implementation, and collaboration plans with local partners. - Funding decisions are based on alignment with CareQuest Institute’s goals and the demonstrated impact on Hawaii’s oral health landscape. --- ## Additional Information - The initiative builds on legislative progress made between 2022 and 2024, including the expansion of Medicaid adult dental benefits and policy changes for dental hygienists in school-based settings. - Emphasis is placed on addressing provider shortages, low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and increasing benefit utilization among newly covered populations. - The grant supports a comprehensive community oral health needs assessment and the development of policy options for workforce expansion and license portability. - Special focus is given to children’s oral health, including potential policies requiring dental examination for public school entry and sustainability of school-based oral health services. --- ## External Links - [CareQuest Institute for Oral Health](https://www.carequest.org) - [Grant program details and application](https://www.carequest.org/content/g-2405-21768) - [CareQuest Grantmaking Overview](https://www.carequest.org/grantmaking) --- ## Contact Information | Name/Department | Email | Website | |-----------------|-------|---------| | CareQuest Institute Grants Team | grants@carequest.org | [Contact Page](https://www.carequest.org/contact) | ---

Hawaii Oral Health Coalition Policy and Advocacy Grant - CareQuest Institute

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