Program Overview

Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) Certificate Program

The MUSC Center for Rural Oral Health Research and Community Engagement, in partnership with the American Dental Association, is pleased to be a national training site for the Community Dental Health Coordinator Certificate Program. This program is designed to address the oral health needs of rural and underserved communities.

Program Overview

The CDHC Certificate Program is based on the American Dental Association's national CDHC curriculum and is intended for dental hygienists and dental assistants who serve rural, underserved communities. The program equips participants with the knowledge and tools to serve as vital links between patients, healthcare providers, and community resources, particularly in underserved rural areas.

Program Details

• Length: 9 to 12 months
• Cost: $2,500
• Continuing Education Credits: 25-31 hours
• Delivery Method: Online via Endeavor (Brightspace)
• Scholarships: Limited scholarships are available for South Carolina applicants during registration

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH license required)
• Certified Dental Assistant (CDA certification required)
• Graduate of an ADA CODA-accredited dental hygiene or dental assisting program (diploma required)

Program Modules

The program consists of several modules, including:

Module 1: Advocacy and Outreach

• Lesson 1: Definitions & Determinants of Health and Wellness
• Lesson 2: Establishing a Framework for Community Health Prevention Strategies
• Lesson 3: The CDHC as a Community Health Worker
• Lesson 4: Community Diagnostics
• Lesson 5: Community Networking and Patient Navigation
• Lesson 6: Community Outreach
• Lesson 7: Oral Health Advocacy
• Lesson 8: Community Resource Mapping and Partnership Development

Module 2: Communication and Culture

• Lesson 1: Cultural Humility and Cultural Competence
• Lesson 2: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
• Lesson 3: Oral Health Literacy
• Lesson 4: Health Promotion Presentations (age-related learning)

Module 3: Interviewing Skills

• Lesson 1: Human Behavior & Health; The Spirit of Motivational Interviewing
• Lesson 2: Client-Centered Counseling Skills
• Lesson 3: OARS Continued & VASE-R
• Lesson 4: Rolling with Resistance
• Lesson 5: Implementing OARS in Assessment/Evaluation

Module 6: Legal and Ethical Issues

• Lesson 1: Laws and Regulations Governing Health Care
• Lesson 2: Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Lesson 3: Confidentiality and Documentation
• Lesson 4: Risk Management
• Lesson 5: Scope of Practice

Module 11: Prevention of Oral Cancer (Dental Assistant Only)

• Lesson 1: Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer: Case Study
• Lesson 2: Normal Oral Tissues
• Lesson 3: Red/White/Mixed Lesions: Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
• Lesson 4: Causes and Risk Factors of Oral Cancer
• Lesson 5: Early Vs. Advanced Oral Cancer
• Lesson 6: Oral Cancer, Tobacco, and Alcohol

Module 13: Financing and Payment of Dentistry

• Lesson 1: Public Financing of Dental Care
• Lesson 2: Non-Governmental Third Party Insurance

Community Demonstration Project

The demonstration project bridges classroom theory with supervised, hands-on experience. As the final component of the ADA certification course for CDHCs, students will fulfill their certification requirements while gaining valuable experience in the community.

Instructors

• Amah Riley, DHSc, MPH, RDH, CDHC: Deputy director and assistant professor for the Center for Rural Oral Health Research and Community Engagement
• Traci Willimon, EdD, RDH, CDA, CDHC: Instructor and program advisor for the Center for Rural Oral Health Research and Community Engagement

ADA CERP Designation

The MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine is an ADA CERP recognized provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education.