The Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) Block Grant Program is administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) to provide direction and money to promote the health outcomes of children, infants, and individuals in need of maternal care (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2017). MCHB’s mission has been to improve the wellbeing of the country’s children and childbearing individuals (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2017). Members of this population include infants, adolescents, children, and parents. This discussion examines how the states of Massachusetts and Oregon utilize MCB Block Grant money for dental care.
Massachusetts and Oregon
The state of Massachusetts has outlined a number of priorities that should be met by Title V. The money obtained from the program is used to provide equitable and sustainable dental care to children aged between 1 and 17 years. The state focuses on dental services such as normal checkups and treatments. This approach has made it easier for the state to address the dental health needs of many children. Preventive measures are also considered to support the oral needs of more children (“Title V Maternal and Child Health block grant Massachusetts at a glance 2016,” 2017). The dental health needs of pregnant women are also addressed using the MCB Block Grant money. Individuals who are in need of dental care are provided with adequate care. Preventive measures such as clinical visits are supported by the program. Experts believe strongly that the dental care initiatives supported by the MCB Block Grant money have delivered positive results.
In Oregon, the money is used to address specific child and maternal health priorities. The state focuses on surveillance in order to understand the health status of both children and women. This gained information and data is then used to implement sustainable dental care delivery models. The needs of individuals who are at risk are monitored frequently and assessed. The funds are usually available to local players in order to ensure more pregnant women, infants, and young children receive preventive oral services (“Maternal and Child Health Title V block grant,” 2017). Pregnant women are usually encouraged to visit dental clinics in order to receive adequate care. Children can receive preventive oral support from dental clinics. These measures have made it easier for the state of Oregon to deal with most of the dental health problems affecting more pregnant women and underage children.
Ways to Use the Funds Efficiently
The money available to different states under the Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) Block Grant program is usually used to tackle a wide range of health problems affecting the targeted population. When it comes to dental care, the states of Oregon and Massachusetts have been using the funds to support treatment and preventive measures for dental diseases. These strategies have made it easier for the targeted individuals to realize their oral health goals. However, these funds can be used effectively in order to ensure sustainable dental health statuses of more individuals are realized. The states can go further to use the finances to implement powerful campaigns aimed at educating the targeted population about the importance of proper dental practices and hygiene. The states can partner with different institutions such as churches and schools in order to record positive results. The states can also use the funds to offer personalized dental services to individuals who are at risk (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2017). These strategies can ensure the emerging dental health needs of more women and children are met.
References
Health Resources & Services Administration. (2017). Maternal and child health bureau.
Maternal and Child Health Title V block grant. (2017). Web.
Title V Maternal and Child Health block grant Massachusetts at a glance 2016. (2017). Web.