# Public Health Dental Hygiene Teams in Local Health Department RFA This RFA provides funding for up to five Kentucky Local Health Departments (LHDs) or their authorized contractors to establish or expand Public Health Dental Hygiene (PHDH) teams. Funded teams will deliver preventive oral health services—including school-based, long-term care, and teledentistry-enabled dental hygiene programs—to improve access and outcomes for underserved rural communities. The initiative aims to reduce preventable oral disease, increase rural preventive care access, and promote workforce and technology innovations as part of Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Each award is anticipated to be approximately $470,000 for FY2027. Total available funding for similar dental hygiene workforce expansion initiatives across all relevant RHTP programs is up to $9.9 million for FY2026-27 (program-level), but this opportunity is fixed at $470,000 per LHD award. ## Key facts - Status: Closed - Type: RFA - Issued by: Kentucky Department for Public Health (Kentucky) - Posted: 2026-03-20 - Application due: 2026-04-24 - Funding: $470,000 - Eligible applicants: Local Health Department, Authorized Contractor (per KRS 313.040(8)) - How to apply: Completed applications and required attachments must be submitted by email to marsha.deaton@ky.gov by April 24, 2026, to be considered for FY27 funding. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the deadline. - Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS) - Official source: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/PHDH%20Team%20Request%20for%20Application.pdf ## Eligibility Eligible applicants are Kentucky Local Health Departments (LHDs) or their authorized contractors as defined in KRS 313.040(8) who demonstrate capacity to deliver the required preventive oral health services. Applicants must show readiness to implement the proposed services, align with the RHTP objectives, and comply with all state and federal grant requirements. ## Requirements Applicants must submit a completed application package that includes: a project narrative, staffing plan, timeline with milestones, and a detailed budget using the provided Attachment A template. Required documentation includes a resolution or letter of support from the governing board, evidence of engagement with service sites and the local dental community, and assurance of compliance with all regulatory and reporting requirements. At least 50% of project funds must be expended by the end of Year 1. Administrative and indirect costs are capped at 10% of the total award. Construction and major facility retrofitting are not allowed. ## Required attachments - Project Narrative - Subrecipient Budget using Attachment A - Formal board resolution or letter of support from LHD governing board - Documentation of engagement with service sites (letters, MOUs, agreements) - Documentation of engagement/agreement from dentist community - Timeline with project milestones ## Application package and source documents - [KY - 2026 - RHTP – Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access (PHDH_Team_Request_for_Application)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/ebeb0099-582c-4c04-9820-bed8babe09db/file) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/PHDH%20Team%20Request%20for%20Application.pdf - [KY - 2026 - RHTP: Rooted in Health - Rural Dental Access](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/39d67020-4365-4a47-a802-99adf6fac25c/file) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/DRAFT_PHDH%20Team%20Request%20for%20Application_03-17-26.pdf - [KY - 2026 - Skip to main navigation Skip to main content](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/7daafb85-d887-4fe3-96c4-0ebc957b6f54/file) — official: https://ruralhealthplan.ky.gov/Pages/Request_For_Applications.aspx - [KY - 2026 - RHTP – Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access (Consolidated support doc)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8b0293f5-3205-48d8-a05b-73ad569a782f/file) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/RFA%20for%20Accredited%20Dental%20Hygiene%20Programs%204-16-26.pdf - [KY - 2026 - Request for Application (RFA): RHTP Funding Opportunity to Establish or Expand Accredited Dental Hygiene Programs (Consolidated support doc)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/8651e8d3-2d5e-4088-982b-b9070dd4177a/file) (primary) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/Request%20for%20Application%20%28RFA%29%20Rural%20Health%20Transformation%20Program%20Funding%20Opportunity%20to%20Establish%20or%20Expand%20Accredited%20Dental%20Hy.pdf - [KY - 2026 - RHTP Subrecipient](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/3b289d41-65f2-4975-8195-1dee0035dc37/file) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/_layouts/download.aspx?SourceUrl=https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/Attachment%20A%20-%20KY%20RHTP%20Subrecipient%20Budget%20Template.xlsx - [KY - 2026 - Attachment B - CMS Notice of Award (Consolidated support doc)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/5ac0bb97-657e-4e9d-b4ed-dba33f2ea8e8/file) — official: https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/oas/Documents/Attachment%20B%20-%20CMS%20Notice%20of%20Award.pdf More Kentucky RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ky (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/ky.md) --- Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/public-health-dental-hygiene-teams-in-local-health-department-rfa--1d8c3ad7ed — data as of 2026-06-21. Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.