The Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) Oral Health Network (OHN) was developed in January 2008 with the support of the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Oral Health.
The OHN was developed to provide a variety of services to the community health centers (CHCs) and other safety net dental clinics in Illinois. The OHN provides a method of communication between the clinics and acts as a liaison between the clinics and local, state and federal agencies and organizations. Additionally, the OHN developed, distributed and tabulated results of the oral health needs assessment. The survey report will be used to direct the actions of the OHN.
OHN quarterly meetings provide information about topics relevant to increasing access to oral health care and allow OHN members with an opportunity to discuss relevant issues. Meetings are held at IPHCA's Chicago and Springfield offices and connected via videoconference. For those unable to attend the meetings in person, teleconferencing is available. Topics have included identifying barriers to oral health care and an update on the availability of oral health related data. Additionally, the OHN hosts training programs on a variety of topics that are relevant to the operation of safety net dental clinics.
Staff is a member of numerous oral health related organizations such as I-FLOSS Coalition and Chicago Community Oral Health Forum, and sits on several advisory committees. The OHN has collaborated with Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics’ Bright Smiles from Birth Campaign, Illinois Children’s Health Care Foundation, IDPH Oral Cancer Prevention and Control Program and works closely with Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Oral Health.
Anyone engaged in the operation of a CHC or other safety net dental clinic in Illinois or has a mission to increase access to oral health care is welcome to be part of the OHN. There is no application process nor are there membership dues. The OHN was developed as a service with the mission of increasing the capacity of oral health care in Illinois.