Delta Dental’s collaborative commitment and initiatives

DELTA DENTAL'S COLLABORATIVE COMMITMENT AND INITIATIVES

In 2023, Delta Dental of Missouri launched a workforce development pilot grant program in partnership with five organizations in Missouri. The initiative aimed to strengthen oral health career pipelines, support mentorship programs, enhance recruitment efforts targeting high school students, and expand dental hygiene and dental assisting programs.

The pilot resulted in significant workforce development outcomes -

• Established two high school dental assisting programs, training 51 students

• Trained 17 dental assistant students at a rural federally qualified health center (FQHC), 9 received job offers and 8 advanced into dental hygiene programs

• Launched a dental assisting apprenticeship program at four rural FQHCs, training 16 students

• Reached more than 1,000 individuals through workshops, shadowing and mentorship programs - many from underserved and underrepresented communities

Building on this momentum, Delta Dental of Missouri is continuing its workforce development efforts in 2025 through a collaborative approach and a $375,000 commitment to further these initiatives.

A key milestone was the June 25 stakeholder convening in Jefferson City, which brought together oral health leaders from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Office of Dental Health and Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Missouri Dental Association, Missouri Dental Hygienists' Association, Missouri Coalition for Oral Health, and the Community Health Commission of Missouri. The collaborative meeting helped define shared goals and priorities. Missouri stakeholders identified three main focus areas - dental assistant pipeline development, dental hygiene program expansion, and loan forgiveness programs.

Several initiatives are now underway -

• Missouri's Dental Assistant Training Program targets high school students, with funding supporting curriculum development, equipment, and partnerships with career centers

• A dental assistant apprenticeship program, focused on FQHCs, offers standardized training and hands-on experience, with plans to expand beyond the initial four centers

• The State Fair Dental Hygiene Program will double its student capacity, offering scalable training models to meet growing workforce demands

• Loan forgiveness efforts are being expanded through the State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) and Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP), with additional funding unlocking federal matches

• Future strategies also include exploring scholarships to reduce financial barriers for aspiring oral health professionals.

"We know there's a shortage of dental professionals across the state, and we're committed to supporting our providers and strengthening the pipeline," said Dr. Nevin Mathai, Delta Dental of Missouri dental director.

About Delta Dental of Missouri

Delta Dental of Missouri is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization and the state's leading dental benefits provider and oral health philanthropist. It provides more than 2.41 million members with access to affordable, high-quality dental care through group plans tailored to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes, from large corporations to small businesses with two or more employees. Delta Dental also offers dental benefit plans directly to individuals and families. It also provides access to affordable, high-quality vision care through group vision benefit plans. The company proudly supports oral health initiatives, educational programs and charitable causes that help educate people about the importance of dental health and provide free dental care to those in need. Delta Dental of Missouri also created the Missouri Dental Care Resource Guide to help individuals access information about low-cost and free dental care options in their area-available online at www.DeltaDentalMO.com/ResourceGuide1. To learn more about the company, visit www.DeltaDentalMO.com.