Overview
Low-income children are five times more likely to suffer from untreated tooth decay compared to children with greater means. This leads to suffering and health problems that can extend into adulthood, all of which can be easily prevented at an affordable cost. Our SmileConnect solution, an integrated care model, addresses this need by helping providers in the community coordinate dental care for children.
Our Approach
Altarum’s SmileConnect program is a scalable model that combines provider education, referral technology, and community integration to improve access to dental care. Here's how it works:
1) An accredited provider education program that helps primary care clinicians integrate preventive oral health exams and other basic dental care services, such as application of fluoride varnishes, into well-child visits.
2) Referral technology that makes it easy for primary care doctors and other community providers to refer children to nearby dentists who accept Medicaid and CHIP, and to track the care of their young patients.
3) A community integration training program for community health workers to integrate oral health education and referrals into programs for children, such as WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Results
All three elements of the SmileConnect program have been implemented in communities across Michigan, resulting in nearly one million children covered by Medicaid or CHIP receiving earlier access to preventive oral health services, resources, and dental referrals.
Contact Us
Erin Butto - MPH
Senior Director, Applied Research and Analytics
Areas of Expertise- Research and Analytics
- Health Policy Analysis
Erin leads a portfolio of programs focusing on health economic and policy analysis, Military and Veterans Health, and Survey Science. She has 20 years of combined experience in research and health policy, with specific expertise in communicating the impact and cost-effectiveness of clinical and community interventions. Erin holds a master's degree in public health with a focus on health behavior and health promotion from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Carley Kirk - MS
Deputy Director, Population Health
Areas of Expertise- Maternal and Child Health
- Clinical Quality Improvement
- Public Health IT Solutions
Carley Kirk has 15 years of experience managing large quality improvement initiatives focused on maternal and child health, including a CMS-funded program in Michigan that resulted in one million low-income children receiving access to preventive oral health services. She specializes in advancing population health through programmatic and technology implementation, policy development, and leading health care demonstrations of innovative approaches that advance care. Carley holds a master’s degree in health education from the University of Michigan and serves as a board member for the Michigan Oral Health Coalition.