Network Priorities

A key project is the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project – a collaborative initiative bringing together local oral health providers (Mainely Teeth and Greater Portland Health), Cumberland County Public Health Department, the Maine CDC’s School Oral Health Program, and COHN. Supported by the Cumberland County Public Health Department and federal American Rescue Plan funding, the project is working over three years to expand access to comprehensive oral health services for every school in the county.

The project’s goal is to build a coordinated, sustainable school-based oral health system that meets children where they are – at school. By offering a full continuum of care, from prevention and early intervention to restorative services, the project aims to reach all Cumberland County schools and ensure oral health care is accessible to every student, and especially those who struggle to get care in a traditional dental home.

A key project is the Oral Health Navigation (OHN) Learning Series, a first-of-its-kind initiative that supports upskilling for frontline workers and expanding access to preventive dental services. The series also provides career exploration opportunities for individuals interested in the oral health field. Through self-paced, online modules, the OHN Learning series covers the basics of oral health and how oral health care is delivered and paid for. Modules are grouped together into levels that allow learners to earn Oral Health Foundations digital badges issued by the University of Maine System (UMS). This low-barrier training has empowered learners from Community Health Worker organizations, childcare centers, nonprofit dental clinics, community paramedicine and primary care practices to earn over 100 digital badges (and counting!). The OHN Learning Series was developed by a core group of partners, including the Children's Oral Health Network, MCD Global Health, Maine CDC, and Maine Access Immigrant Network. The training is administered by MCD Global Health. The Maine State Workforce Board, Maine Health Access Foundation, and Maine CDC awarded the funds to make this training available and free for the public.

OHIP has also worked to increase the number and capacity of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists (IPDHs), enabling more care delivery in community settings through the Maine Dental Connection model. Partners have developed a new course offering in the dental hygiene program at the University of Maine Augusta (UMA) that aligns with a comprehensive online toolkit, both designed to support Registered Dental Hygienists (RDH) who wish to practice with Independent Practice authority. The course and the toolkit were developed in tandem by subject matter experts from the dental hygiene field, and they provide RDHs with knowledge and skills to advance along their career pathway.

Though the Industry Partnerships grant from the Department of Labor has come to an end, the strategies launched through OHIP are well positioned to continue expanding in 2026 and beyond. Maine CDC provided initial funding for the Oral Health Navigation concept, and continues to support this work. The OHN Learning Series and the strategies to support the growth of IPDHs form a strong foundation for the next phase of oral health workforce development. With a new three-year grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission’s (NBRC) Catalyst program, COHN partners will bring the OHN skillset to community paramedicine and primary care practices in rural counties. IPDH work is continuing through other grant-funded projects with focus on Maine Dental Connection capacity expansion. These efforts deepen the availability of community-based care and help grow the workforce needed for this expansion.