St. David’s Foundation Dental Program staff will discuss the importance of building relationships with a network of dentists, establishing partnerships with schools, and the impact of collaboration on the families served. They will highlight how these efforts are on enhancing access and mobilizing relationships that support individual potential goals. The presentation will also explore how community partners are experiencing changes and discuss strategies to ensure that internal practices align with the community’s evolving needs, positively influence oral health, and improve dental care access.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tooth decay, commonly known as cavities, is the most prevalent chronic disease among children in the United States and the leading cause of missed school days. Access to dental care is further limited by a lack of resources and rising dental insurance costs each year. Skillset’s Dental Program aims to bridge this gap by addressing the significant unmet need for oral health services among various underserved populations from different cultural backgrounds.  

Additionally, an internal case study for the Complex Care Referral program will be presented to illustrate outreach to external partners through collaboration, accountability, and adaptability. These steps aim to recognize the behaviors that community partners are encountering and ensure that the dental program staff aligns their actions to serve our community better.  

Learning Objectives: Attendees will learn the best practices for building relationships with community partners. Attendees will understand the importance of establishing rapport with families with low health literacy and maintaining their trust as advocates. We will discuss the necessary steps to ensure ongoing collaboration and open communication with each family throughout the process.