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Oral Health – ORBIT Collaborative

 The ORBIT Collaborative, created in September 1999, works to increase access to quality and affordable dental health care services for underserved and vulnerable populations in the Bridgeport and Stratford, CT communities.  Facilitated by Southwestern AHEC and funded by the Connecticut Health Foundation since 2002, ORBIT’s members include:
  • Optimus Health Care
  • Southwest Community Health Center
  • Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport
  • Bridgeport Department of Social Services and WIC Program
  • Stratford Health Department
  • Connecticut Dental Health Partnership
  • The Bridgeport Dental Association (BDA)
  • Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD) Head Start Program

Significant Achievements:

  • Engaged local dental providers in the ADA’s national Give Kids A Smile Day (GKAS) 2009 resulting in 444 uninsured children receiving free dental care valued at more than $150,000.
  • Actively supported statewide efforts to secure increased reimbursement for HUSKY dental providers and to develop an Oral Health Improvement Plan for 2007-2012.
  • Increased the number of Preventive and Treatment (Restorative) visits provided to children aged 0-18 in targeted urban areas by 356% from 2002-2007.
  • Reduced the percentage of ‘No Show’ appointment rates in the two participating FQHCs.
  • Implemented a Dental Sealant Program in Bridgeport’s public schools.
  • Implemented a 1st and 3rd grade dental screening program in the Stratford public schools.
  • Delivered Customer Service training program to the ORBIT agencies’ dental teams.

 Program Goals:

  • Provide care coordination to ensure that children secure primary & specialty dental services. 
  • Engage local dentists in providing pro bono services and contracting as HUSKY providers. 
  • Deliver community-wide oral health promotion programming. 
  • Secure public and private support to ensure ORBIT’s financial sustainability by 1/1/2011. 
ORBIT Oral Health Care Coordinator Vani Anand confer with Dr. Jesus Villegas at the ABCD Head Start Dental Home meeting in April, 2009.

ORBIT Oral Health Care Coordinator Vani Anand confers with Dr. Jesus Villegas at the ABCD Head Start Dental Home program, April 2009.

 

Public Health intern Dorraine Dutertre shares her work on ORBIT's Oral Health Education project at the CPHA Annual Meeting in October 2009.
Public Health intern Dorraine Dutertre explains her work on the ORBIT Oral Health Education Program at the CPHA Annual Meeting, October 2009.