Community Dental Health (CDH)

Provides an overview of oral health communication, oral health literacy, and patient assessment interviewing skills for the Community Dental Health Coordinator. Emphasizes impact of oral health literacy on one's health. Includes communication strategies, verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Covers motivational interviewing, human behaviors, and health concepts emphasizing oral health. Incorporates patient assessment, feedback, education, and behavior change interventions for dental patients. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours)

Provides an overview of coordination, documentation and reporting approaches for working with families as well as individuals. Includes family assessment, case documentation and overview of the services system. Covers health care finance, the referral process and components of case management. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Provides an overview of teaching and learning skills as they apply to the Dental Health field. Includes teaching and learning techniques, goal setting, critical thinking, and interviewing skills for the dental health advocate. Covers internet usage and security as well as an introduction to concepts of lifelong learning. Lecture: 2 credits (30 contact hours).

Provides an overview of the Community Dental Health Coordinator responsibilities including advocacy concepts, process of advocacy in the community, advocacy evaluation, and assisting underserved local populations in health and social services. Covers general concepts of writing grants and proposals Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours)

Demonstrates practical application of the Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) skills in a practicum setting. Includes knowledge and skills required to organize, develop and manage integrated dental care in community-based clinics within practice standards. Practicum: 6 hours (360 contact hours)