The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH), through Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), is funding the Rooted in Health — Establish or Expand Accredited Dental Hygiene Programs initiative to strengthen Kentucky’s rural dental-hygienist workforce pipeline. The current CHFS Grant Opportunities page lists August 1, 2026 as the deadline for receipt of applications, and that date has passed. The linked RFA also contains rolling-basis language tied to earlier funding timing, creating an authoritative-source conflict. Atlas therefore treats current funding availability as unverified and does not authorize new applicant outreach unless Kentucky DPH confirms that applications are still being accepted and funds remain available. No exact closing clock time or time zone is published.
The RFA identifies $9.9 million in total funding for accredited dental hygiene programs. Award sizes may vary according to the number of applicants and proposed budgets; the RFA does not publish a universal per-applicant maximum.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit, Kentucky-based educational institutions with the capacity and authority to educate, train, and supervise dental hygiene students in accordance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards. Eligible organizations may include public or private colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, and other nonprofit academic institutions or consortia authorized to host CODA-accredited dental hygiene programs.
Allowable costs include Program Director and faculty personnel, renovation of existing buildings for the dental hygiene program, learning and simulation equipment such as computers, patient chairs, delivery units, instrumentation and sterilization centers, teaching supplies, and CODA accreditation fees. New construction and significant building retrofits are not allowable under the RFA. Indirect costs are capped at 10% of total costs, and total administrative costs funded through direct and indirect costs cannot exceed 10% of the award.
Competitive scoring heavily weights rural reach and impact, including expansion of rural training slots, a demonstrated rural-student pipeline and placement plan, and documented partnerships with Local Health Departments, FQHCs, rural clinics, or rural high schools. Applicants also must document program readiness, CODA accreditation planning, sustainability, implementation milestones, and a reasonable budget. The application packet calls for a one-page cover sheet, narrative of up to 25 pages, institutional leadership support, documentation of rural-partner engagement, and the required budget template. The RFA directs submissions to pam.stein@ky.gov.
Atlas analysis: Atlas Opportunity Score 95/100. This is a high-value Kentucky healthcare-workforce opportunity with a strong rural focus and clearly allowable education, facility-renovation, equipment, and accreditation expenditures. N9+ Fit Score 0/100: this RFA is specifically designed to establish or expand accredited dental hygiene education programs, and Nonagon N9+ should not be forced into the pursuit. Big Sandy Community and Technical College is a particularly strong preliminary applicant prospect because it already operates Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs at the East Kentucky Oral Health Training Center on its Mayo Campus in Paintsville and at a satellite site in London, Kentucky. Applicant-specific expansion intent, budget, training-slot increase, CODA status, rural partnerships, institutional approvals, and current funding availability remain to be verified before filing.
Official sources: Kentucky CHFS Grant Opportunities and RFA — Establish or Expand Accredited Dental Hygiene Programs.