A new online training program created by the UCLA School of Dentistry empowers community health workers with the skills to educate, advocate for, and inspire the communities they serve.
The California Community Health Worker Oral Health Training Program primarily supports and trains CHWs across California, but Session 5 of the training shows dental providers how to integrate CHWs into their practice and bill for their services.
The program is funded by the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Oral Health.
‘Trusted bridges between communities and the dental care team’
CHWs are frontline public health professionals who are trusted members of the communities they serve. Rooted in justice and equity, CHWs in California take on many different roles including, for example, providing oral health education to improve patients’ oral health habits or addressing barriers to dental healthcare by providing information that is consistent with established or recognized oral health care standards.
Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, Director of UCLA’s Center for Children’s Oral Health, led the team that created the CHW training.
“This program is more than a training course,” he said. “It is a step toward transforming how oral health reaches the communities that need it most. By empowering community health workers as trusted bridges between communities and the dental care team, we can address barriers, improve access and connect people to care earlier.”
Course sessions include reading, video lessons, and knowledge checks
The self-paced course consists of five sessions that are accessible to learners at all levels. Each session includes video lessons, knowledge checks and additional readings and resources to support learning. After completing the five sessions, learners can earn a free certificate of completion acknowledging their specialization in oral health.
Social determinants, cultural beliefs, transportation barriers and trust all shape whether a patient ever sits in a dental chair. Challenges with navigating the oral health system can result in delayed care and worsening disease burden. This course will help CHWs connect patients with dental offices to receive timely care. CHWs meet patients where they live, learn, work and worship, then guide them into care.
Billing Medi-Cal Dental for CHW services
CHW services are billable through Medi-Cal Dental. The California Department of Health Care Services added CHW services (oral health education and navigation) as a Medi-Cal benefit effective July 1, 2022, with expanded teledentistry services available for patients to connect with dentists.
Medi-Cal Dental CHWs provide services under the supervision of an enrolled Medi-Cal Dental provider. More detailed information can be found at DHCS’s Medi-Cal Dental Community Health Worker website and CHW Services FAQ.