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County hears update on Dental Innovations project; Apple Tree Dental expanding access
Summary
Partnership for Health reported progress on the Dental Innovations program: Apple Tree Dental expansion, mobile outreach to schools, school sealant program and workforce efforts to increase access to oral health care.
Clay County staff and Partnership for Health coordinator Jane Neubauer briefed commissioners July 1 on the county Dental Innovations project, which aims to increase access to oral health care for people on Minnesota health insurance programs and for uninsured residents.
Neubauer said Apple Tree Dental is expanding with a new rental clinic in Detroit Lakes that will initially operate three days per week as it hires staff. The county's mobile dental outreach has expanded from Moorhead Public Schools to Dilworth, Glendon, Felton and other rural schools, and the Minnesota School Sealant Program was added last year at Holly School. Partnership organizers reported educating about 5,200 students last year through in-school programs and mobile clinics and noted staffing shortages in the oral-health workforce as an ongoing barrier.
Commissioners asked about workforce-development efforts; Neubauer encouraged recruitment into dental careers and described regional outreach. No action was taken; the briefing was informational and staff said they will continue program coordination and report progress.
