Relating to dental professions.
Beyond community colleges, the bill also mandates the Department of Education to develop a grant program for school districts or education service districts. This program is designed to promote and elevate career and technical education related to dental health professions. By awarding grants to these school entities, the legislation aims to introduce dental health careers to students at an earlier stage, ultimately working to alleviate the shortage of trained dental professionals in the state.
House Bill 2979 focuses on enhancing the resources and support for dental professions in Oregon. Specifically, it directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to create a grant program intended to bolster the training programs for dental assistants and dental hygienists within community colleges. This initiative aims to increase enrollment, provide scholarships, and market dental training programs to foster a stronger workforce in the dental field. The bill allocates $5 million from the General Fund to facilitate the establishment and implementation of this program, illustrating a significant investment in dental health education.
Additionally, House Bill 2979 addresses the shortage of dental professionals in underserved areas by prioritizing grants through the Oregon Health Authority. This includes a focus on recruiting and retaining dental professionals in rural and low-income communities, as well as among tribal populations. The bill sets aside $7 million for these initiatives, underlining the commitment to improving oral health care access in marginalized communities. However, potential contention could arise over the distribution of these funds and the effectiveness of the proposed programs in genuinely addressing the workforce needs in various parts of Oregon.