CareQuest Institute Seeks Proposals for their Community and Care Transformation Initiative

CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a prominent nonprofit organisation dedicated to establishing a more accessible, equitable, and integrated oral health system, has announced a call for grant proposals aimed at fostering healthcare transformation. 

The request for proposals (RFP) is now open, inviting applications from community organizations seeking to expand the delivery of oral health care or safety net clinical facilities aiming to enhance their community engagement. Interested parties must submit their proposals by June 30.

Care Transformation and Community Involvement

The ideal proposals should encompass two interconnected aspects: advancing care transformation concepts and ensuring genuine and comprehensive community involvement in the implementation of these concepts. Trenae Simpson, the Director of Grants and Programs at CareQuest Institute, emphasized the importance of investing in organizations that share their vision of an oral health care system that caters to everyone’s needs. 

“We know that oral health care solutions will not be as effective and meaningful without those individuals most impacted by oral health disparities driving the work. This RFP is an opportunity for oral health providers, advocates, and researchers to share information, act, and collaborate with communities toward a healthier, more equitable future,” said Simpson.

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CareQuest Institute, in collaboration with other partners in oral health care, has been developing and testing best practices for care transformation to promote oral health equity and access to quality, comprehensive care at a systemic level. Winning proposals should prioritize the involvement of community members who are directly affected by the efforts, recognizing that care transformation initiatives cannot progress effectively without their active participation.

Example of Possible Projects

An example of a project falling within the scope of the Community and Care Transformation Initiative could be a safety net partner piloting new value-based care procedures under the guidance of a representative patient or community body.

It could also mean a state policy organization employing a formal process to ensure ongoing community input in advocating for dental integration measures within state Medicaid policy or a safety net provider collaborating with community partners to implement workforce models representative of their patients.

The CareQuest Institute is prepared to fund ten projects, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $125,000. Proposals should be submitted through Fluxx, CareQuest Institute’s online grants management portal. More specific information regarding eligibility, proposal requirements, and evaluation criteria can be found on their Community and Care Transformation Initiative page.