Grants to States to Support Oral Health Workforce Activities

The purpose of this program is to help States develop and implement innovative programs to address the dental workforce needs of designated dental health professional shortage areas (Dental HPSAs) in a manner appropriate to each State’s individual needs.

Eligible applicants include only Governor-designated, State government entities, such as the office of State’s dental director or a State-run university or dental school. In additional to the 50 States, eligible applicants include the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. Private institutions are not eligible to apply. States are encouraged to work with tribal entities to facility greater consultation and coordination between State and tribal governments. All applications submitted by any State-governmental entity other than the office/division housing the State dental director (such as a State-run university of dental school) MUST include a letter of support in Attachment 9 from either the Governor or the State’s dental director that specifically endorses the applicant as the State’s sole designated representative to apply for these federal dollars on the State’s behalf. Such applicants must coordinate with the office/division housing the State dental director as only one application per State will be accepted. The letter must detail how the State’s dental director will be actively involved in the project, include the State’s investment of resources to the project and any planned coordination activities at the State level, and these must be included in the application. Applications from State government entities, other than the office/division housing the State dental director, that do not contain this letter WILL NOT be considered for funding. An application submitted by the State governmental office/division housing the State dental director does not need to include a letter of support from the Governor. For States without an official oral health program or without a State-level oral health leadership position, the eligible entity to apply on the State’s behalf would include the individual or entity within the State government that holds the primary responsibility for the State’s dental workforce. All States are eligible to apply. If you are a current recipient with a period of performance ending August 31, 2022 at the time of submission, you are eligible to apply. If you are a current recipient with a period of performance

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration tvallin@hrsa.gov