An online professional development course to train CHWs to provide oral health outreach to low-income Black guardians

In this SBIR Phase I submission, KDH Research andamp; Communication (KDHRC) proposes to develop and evaluate Guardians Receiving Information through Navigators (GRIN). GRIN is a culturally competent, online professional development course to prepare community health workers (CHWs) to provide oral health outreach to low-income Black guardians of children and adolescents. GRIN aims to increase CHWs’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, perceived self- efficacy, and intentions to conduct oral health outreach to Black guardians.Tooth decay, especially when untreated, creates lasting and substantial physical consequences for children and adolescents. Minority and low-income populations have disproportionately high rates of tooth decay and related consequences. Compared to non- Hispanic White children, Black children are less likely to receive preventive dental visits, and experience more untreated tooth decay. Moreover, children living in poverty are twice as likely as children not living in poverty to experience primary tooth decay. Because of such childhood oral health disparities, GRIN will equip CHWs – who are uniquely positioned to provide high- impact outreach to minority and low-income populations – with the knowledge and skills to deliver culturally appropriate tooth decay prevention and oral health outreach to low-income Black guardians of children and adolescents from ages 0-18.In Phase I, we will develop the GRIN prototype with feedback from a steering committee to promote alignment with CHW best practices and the needs of the Black community, and ensure the prototype contains scientifically accurate information. We will evaluate the GRIN prototype in a randomized, two-group study that empirically assesses knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, self-efficacy, and intentions change after exposure to the GRIN prototype.The Phase I project will prepare us for Phase II expansion and a rigorous randomized controlled trial. When complete, GRIN will be rooted in KDHRC’s vast experience and connections with CHW leadership and organizations and be marketed through KDHRC’s robust sales system that uses email and interpersonal outreach to promote and support adoption of our suite of CHW/promotores training programs.GRIN will intervene at a critical point in history to address extant dental health disparities that are likely to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As an online training on dental care to increase CHW competencies in both in-person and virtual outreach to Black guardians, GRIN can strive for the highest possible impact on reducing oral health disparities.Primary tooth decay predicts lifelong oral health issues, and when left untreated, may produce pain, infection, and destruction of teeth and surrounding tissue, and myriad economic and social ramifications. Black youth in low-income households are at substantially greater risk for poor oral health outcomes. We will build and test a culturally competent, online professional development course to prepare community health workers (CHWs) to provide oral health outreach to low-income Black guardians of children and adolescents to build knowledge about oral health care and oral health resources, including how to navigate the oral health care system to improve oral health across the lifespan.