At CareQuest Institute for Oral Health®, we aim to create an oral health system that is accessible, equitable, and integrated. Our mission centers on improving the oral health of all through grantmaking, research, health improvement programs, policy and advocacy, education, dental benefits, and innovation advancements. Essential to our mission is collaborating and partnering with grassroots and community-based organizations representing those most directly impacted by oral health inequities, such as racial and ethnic minorities, rural communities, and older adults.
The School-Based and School-Linked Initiatives to Improve Oral Health grant program is an effort by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health® to fund projects that strengthen communities and improve the oral health system for better outcomes. This program focuses on school-based and school-linked oral health programs that eliminate access barriers for high-risk children, aiming to prevent dental decay and bolster health and academic success. Proposed initiatives may explore workforce considerations, community engagement, policy solutions, expansion of Federally Qualified Health Centers' (FQHCs) capacity, usage of school-based technology and tools like teledentistry, and test alternative payment models to support the systemic improvement of children’s oral health and access to care.