Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access Program

The Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access Program is a funding opportunity administered by the Kentucky Department for Public Health as part of the broader Rural Health Transformation Program. This initiative is supported through federal funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under a multi-year investment designed to strengthen rural health infrastructure and improve access to care across Kentucky. The program specifically focuses on expanding preventive oral health services in underserved rural communities by investing in Public Health Dental Hygiene teams within local health departments. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to increase access to preventive dental services for rural populations, particularly those facing barriers due to geography, income, or limited provider availability. The program aims to reduce preventable oral diseases and improve long-term oral health outcomes by supporting local health departments in establishing or expanding dental hygiene programs. These programs are expected to deliver services to both children and adults, including school-based populations and residents of long-term care facilities, with an emphasis on equitable access regardless of ability to pay. Funding supports a wide range of allowable activities directly tied to the provision of preventive dental hygiene services. These include personnel costs for dental hygienists and support staff, equipment and supplies, transportation for service delivery logistics, teledentistry technology, and data systems for patient tracking and reporting. The program places restrictions on administrative and indirect costs, limiting indirect costs to 10 percent of personnel expenses and total administrative costs to no more than 10 percent of the total award. Funds must be used strictly within the scope of public health dental hygiene services as defined by Kentucky law. Eligibility is limited to Local Health Departments or their authorized contractors that demonstrate the capacity to deliver preventive oral health services in compliance with state regulations. Applicants must show readiness to implement services, including staffing plans, partnerships with service sites such as schools and long-term care facilities, and formal arrangements with dentists for referral services. The program requires integration of teledentistry and coordination with community health resources to enhance continuity of care and improve service reach in rural areas. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive proposal including narrative responses, documentation of organizational capacity, letters of support, and a detailed budget using a prescribed template. Applicants must also demonstrate engagement with service sites and dental providers, and provide a clear implementation timeline. Proposals are evaluated based on program readiness, projected impact, service coverage, and the feasibility of the implementation plan, with a structured scoring system outlined in the request for application. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a key deadline of April 10, 2026 for consideration in the initial funding cycle beginning July 1, 2026. Award notifications are scheduled for late May 2026, with program implementation expected to begin shortly thereafter. The funding opportunity is part of a multi-year initiative, and while initial awards cover a one-year performance period, additional funding may be available in subsequent years based on performance and program expansion plans. This program represents a strategic investment in strengthening rural health systems in Kentucky through targeted expansion of preventive dental care services. By leveraging local health departments and integrating technology-enabled care models, the initiative aims to create sustainable improvements in access, quality, and outcomes for underserved populations across the Commonwealth.

Use the scoring rubric as a checklist. Show a feasible staffing plan, quantify the target population and expected annual service volume, identify clear rural service gaps, document committed service sites and referral dentists, and present a time-bound implementation plan and budget that match the proposed scope.