The Montana AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) mission is to improve the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on primary care, through community/academic educational partnerships, in order to increase the access to quality healthcare. We work to connect students to healthcare careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.

To fulfill our mission, we focus on these key areas:

1) Programs and resources for K-12 students and teachers to generate interest in healthcare professions

 

2) Placement of health profession students in rural rotations throughout the state

 

3) Recruitment and retention of qualified healthcare professionals to Montana

4) Continuing Education programs for practicing healthcare professionals

 

Montana has 4 regional AHEC offices - Eastern, located in Billings- South Central, located in Dillon - Western, located in Missoula - and the North Central, which has yet to be open.  

 

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In 2001, the Gallatin Dental Alliance began the Elementary School Oral Health Screening Program.  The Program was created in response to the 2000 Surgeon General's report Oral Health in America, which stated that tooth decay is the most prevalent disease affecting children.  The Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) & the Montana Office of Rural Health (MORH) staff have assumed responsibility for coordinating this community-based public health intervention program.  The program is a collaborative effort of many individuals and organizations in the Gallatin Valley.  Volunteer dentists and dental hygienists offer their time to take a quick look into students' mouths in order to identify any early or urgent oral health care needs.  Via school nurses, the parents are informed of any problems and referred to local dentists who offer care regardless of ability to pay.  This program has grown since its inception in 2001, when a mere 116 elementary school students were screened.  There were 2,571 students screened in the valley in 2009. 

Months of planning and preparation are required prior to the screenings.  Coordinating screening dates with the schools, school nurses and oral health professionals is a necessary and important part of the process.  Other activities include recruiting volunteers, ordering supplies, collecting donated items, preparing materials - and - ultimately performing the screenings.  Data are collected at the screenings and later analyzed in order to prepare and submit reports to the State and other interested individuals.  After the screenings have taken place and reports are prepared, the Gallatin Dental Alliance meets to assess the program and discuss how to improve the program and move forward based on the lessons learned and the data obtained. 

It is the hope of Montana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) & the Montana Office of Rural Health (MORH) staff that the program will continue to grow and reach out to children in Gallatin and surrounding counties, and when needed, provide them with options for oral health care. 

 

If you are interested in launching a similar program in your area or would like more information, please contact Caitlin O'Brien caitlin.obrien@msu.montana.edu or visit