U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Oral Health Strategic Framework, 2014–2017

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to advancing the oral health and general well-being of all populations across the lifespan.The HHS Oral Health Strategic Framework 2014-2017 (hereinafter, the Framework) reflects the collective deliberations and next steps proposed by HHS and other federal partners to realize the department's oral health vision and eliminate oral health disparities.The Framework builds upon and outlines a strategic alignment of HHS operating and staff divisions' resources, programs, and leadership commitments to improve oral health with activities of other federal partners.The U.S. Public Health Service Oral Health Coordinating Committee authored the Framework to provide the context for leveraging current and planned oral health priorities and actions across HHS and partner agencies.The Framework aligns key activities with five major goals and associated strategies in response to recommendations from two 2011 Institute of Medicine reports, Advancing Oral Health in America and Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable and Underserved Populations, 1,2 and reflects discussions with external stakeholders.Although the Framework does not attempt to inventory all oral health initiatives supported by HHS and other federal partners, it provides a roadmap to prevent oral disease, increase access to services, develop and disseminate oral health information, advance public policy and research and translate it into practice, strengthen the oral health workforce, and eliminate oral health disparities.The Framework is written primarily for oral health, behavioral health, and primary care health professionals and program administrators within and outside of the federal government and other external stakeholder groups interested in oral health.It serves as an essential resource to ( 1) optimize the implementation of activities that are planned and underway, (2) strengthen existing cross-agency collaboration, and (3) identify new avenues for privatepublic partnerships by creating maximum synergy with other current federal and nonfederal oral health initiatives. THE CHALLENGEA stated health objective of our nation is to place a greater focus on health and not just health care.3 Total health and wellness cannot exist without oral health, and the two are closely linked.Oral disease can have an impact on physical, psychological, social, and economic health and well-being through pain, diminished function, and reduced quality of life.These impacts were underscored in the Office of the Secretary/OMH.The Office of the Secretary/ OMH works to improve awareness of the benefits of electronic health records for providers serving underserved and at-risk communities, and use websites and trainings to fully promote functional and exchangeable