CTMOM’s Collaborative Efforts with Community Health Centers

The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO) is committed to ensuring that every patient who receives care at the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) Free Dental Clinic has a pathway to continued oral healthcare. While CTMOM provides thousands of Connecticut residents with free dental services each year, our mission extends beyond a single day of treatment. Through strong partnerships with the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHC/ACT), CFDO helps patients establish a dental home where they can receive ongoing preventive, restorative, and comprehensive oral healthcare.

Community Health Centers are essential partners in expanding access to care for individuals and families who face financial, geographic, or other barriers to receiving dental services. Each year, CHC representatives participate in CTMOM by staffing resource tables, meeting directly with patients, answering questions about available services, and helping individuals connect with dental and medical providers in their communities. These interactions often serve as the first step in establishing a long-term relationship with a healthcare provider.

CFDO continues this effort after the clinic ends. Patients who do not have insurance or an established dental home receive follow-up information encouraging them to connect with a local Community Health Center. Educational materials and contact information for nearby CHCs are provided to help patients access ongoing oral healthcare and other supportive health services.

Together, CFDO and Connecticut’s Community Health Centers are working to reduce barriers to care, strengthen community partnerships, and improve oral health equity across the state. By connecting patients with lasting sources of care, we are helping transform a one-day clinic into a continuum of care that supports healthier individuals, families, and communities.

For more information, please contact CHC/ACT and for a list of safety nets click here.

Some of our CT partners

Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC)
The Connecticut Area Health Education Center (CT AHEC) is dedicated to improving the health of Connecticut communities by developing and supporting a diverse healthcare workforce, expanding access to care, and promoting health equity through education, training, and community partnerships. CT AHEC works with students, healthcare professionals, and community organizations to strengthen the healthcare workforce while connecting residents with valuable health resources. CFDO is proud to partner with CT AHEC to expand the impact of our community outreach events. CT AHEC coordinates student volunteers who provide hands-on support at our events while gaining meaningful community-based experience. In addition, CT AHEC staff and volunteers share health education materials and connect patients with valuable community resources. Together, CFDO and CT AHEC are helping build healthier communities by supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals and improving access to oral health education and services across Connecticut.

Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP)
The Connecticut Dental Health Partnership (CTDHP) administers the dental benefits for Connecticut’s HUSKY Health and Covered Connecticut programs, helping eligible residents access preventive and restorative oral healthcare. Through its statewide network of participating dental providers, CTDHP also offers care coordination, patient navigation, and community outreach services to help members find and maintain a dental home. CFDO is proud to partner with CTDHP to improve access to oral healthcare in communities across Connecticut. At many of our outreach events, CTDHP Patient Navigators are on-site to answer questions about dental benefits, help patients find a dental provider who accepts their insurance plan, and assist with scheduling follow-up appointments. Together, CFDO and CTDHP work to remove barriers to care, connect patients with ongoing dental services, and support healthier smiles long after each outreach event ends.

Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI)
The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving oral health for all Connecticut residents through advocacy, education, policy development, and collaborative partnerships. COHI works to advance oral health equity by bringing together healthcare providers, community organizations, policymakers, and advocates to address barriers to care and promote policies that improve access to quality oral healthcare. CFDO is proud to partner with COHI through community outreach efforts and our shared commitment to strengthening the Connecticut Oral Health Coalition. COHI representatives regularly participate in CFDO outreach events, connecting with community members and promoting oral health resources. Together, CFDO and COHI work to advance oral health equity, foster collaboration across the state, and ensure that every Connecticut resident has the opportunity to achieve optimal oral health.

Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA)
The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO) values the ongoing support of the Connecticut State Dental Association (CSDA) and its members in advancing access to oral healthcare throughout Connecticut. Each year, the CSDA helps promote volunteer opportunities for the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) Free Dental Clinic through its communication channels, encouraging dentists and other dental professionals to participate in this statewide effort.

Many CSDA member dentists generously volunteer their time and expertise at CTMOM, helping provide high-quality dental care to patients in need. The CSDA also supports CFDO through in-kind contributions and other assistance that helps strengthen the success of our outreach initiatives. Over the years, many dedicated volunteers and leaders have served both CFDO and the CSDA, reflecting a shared commitment to improving the oral health of Connecticut communities.

University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO) is proud to partner with the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine to improve access to oral healthcare while helping educate and inspire the next generation of dental professionals. Through this longstanding collaboration, UConn faculty, residents, dental students, and pre-dental students volunteer at the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) Free Dental Clinic and other CFDO outreach events, providing compassionate, high-quality dental care to individuals and families in need.

Beyond delivering care, the partnership offers students valuable hands-on experience serving diverse communities and reinforces the importance of community service, health equity, and access to care. CFDO and the UConn School of Dental Medicine also work together to promote oral health education and increase awareness of resources available to Connecticut residents. Together, we are strengthening the future of the dental workforce while improving the oral health of communities across the state.

Connecticut Dental Hygienists’ Association & Connecticut Dental Assistants Association
The Connecticut Foundation for Dental Outreach (CFDO) works closely with the Connecticut Dental Hygienists’ Association (CTDHA) and the Connecticut Dental Assistants Association (CTDAA) to advance its mission of improving access to oral healthcare throughout Connecticut. Through this partnership, both organizations help promote CFDO initiatives, including the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) Free Dental Clinic, by sharing volunteer opportunities through their communication channels and social media platforms and encouraging dental hygienists, dental assistants, and students to get involved.

Members of the CTDHA and CTDAA generously volunteer their time, skills, and expertise at CTMOM, serving in a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles that support patient care and clinic operations. Their ongoing collaboration, volunteer recruitment efforts, and commitment to community service help strengthen CFDO’s outreach initiatives and expand access to care for individuals and families across Connecticut.