activities · 13
what they do
direct service · 9
- Community financial and in-kind support Local Community GrantmakingProvides funding, education, and dental supplies to individuals in need across Arizona; contributed $1.7 million to community initiatives in 2021, including a $5,000 employee-directed donation to A New Leaf, a nonprofit dental provider.
- Develop educational health resources in partnership with community organizations Bilingual Health Education Materials ProductionCo-produced the "Mouth-Healthy Cookbook" with NOAH, featuring recipes curated by nutrition and dental experts, and made it available in Spanish to support oral health.
- Distribute health and wellness newsletters Health and Wellness PublicationsProduces and distributes a monthly lifestyle newsletter called Healthy Horizons, featuring health tips, wellness articles, recipes, and resources on dental and vision trends.
- Distribution of health education materials Bilingual Health Education Materials ProductionProduces and distributes the free Healthy Horizons newsletter with tips on overall health, dental and vision trends, and health tips; also co-produced the "Mouth-Healthy Cookbook" with NOAH, available in English and Spanish, featuring recipes curated by nutrition and dental experts.
- Employee volunteer engagement Volunteer Mobilization & ManagementOrganizes employee volunteer efforts, such as a day of service with St. Vincent de Paul, to support community organizations through direct participation.
- Organize employee volunteer programs Volunteer Mobilization & ManagementCoordinates employee volunteer efforts, such as a day of service with St. Vincent de Paul, to support community organizations.
- Provide dental insurance and care access support Comprehensive Dental Care AccessHas provided dental insurance and supported access to dental care for Arizonans for over 50 years, including through the launch of a dental discount card program to expand affordable dental and vision care access, particularly for gig workers.
- Provision of dental insurance and care access support Comprehensive Dental Care AccessHas provided dental insurance and supported access to dental care for Arizonans for over 50 years, including through the launch of a dental discount card program targeting gig workers and others needing affordable dental and vision care.
- Support community dental initiatives through funding and donations Local Community GrantmakingProvides financial contributions to nonprofit dental providers and community initiatives, including a $5,000 donation to A New Leaf and $1.7 million in community contributions in 2021.
advocacy · 2
- Develop state oral health policy State Legislative Advocacy for Health & Child/Family PolicyDeveloped the first comprehensive state oral health plan for Arizona to guide systemic improvements in oral health care access and outcomes.
- State-level oral health policy development State Legislative Advocacy for Health & Child/Family PolicyDeveloped the first comprehensive state oral health plan for Arizona, representing a foundational advocacy effort to improve oral health systems and access at the policy level.
capacity building · 2
- Provide digital tools for network dentists Healthcare Data Management for Operations & CoordinationOffers a Dental Office Toolkit (DOT) account system for network dentists to access patient benefits, submit claims, and manage explanations of payments (EOPs).
- Support for network dental providers Healthcare Data Management for Operations & CoordinationOffers a Dental Office Toolkit (DOT) account for network dentists to view patient benefits, check claims status, and manage Explanation of Payments (EOPs), enhancing operational efficiency for dental providers.
strategies · 15
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advancing equity through inclusive oral health strategies diversity-equity-inclusionIntegrates diversity, equity, and inclusion into program design and service delivery to better meet the needs of diverse communities and reduce disparities in oral and overall health.
- Community engagement through creative education initiatives community engagement through educationUses innovative outreach methods such as children's writing contests in collaboration with media organizations to raise oral health awareness and foster community participation.
- Digital enablement for providers digital_provider_portalUses a digital provider portal to give network dentists real-time access to patient benefits, claims, and payment details, improving efficiency and reducing administrative friction in care delivery.
- Digital enablement of providers through portal technology digital_provider_portalEmpowers network dentists with real-time access to patient benefits, claims, and payment details via a digital provider portal, improving efficiency and reducing administrative friction in care delivery.
- Equity-centered health improvement diversity-equity-inclusionAdvances diversity, equity, and inclusion through holistic efforts that address the specific needs of diverse communities, operating on the theory that equitable access improves both oral and overall health outcomes.
- Leveraging partnerships to expand capacity and mission impact partnership_leverageBuilds and utilizes strategic partnerships to strengthen organizational reach, resources, and effectiveness in advancing oral health, particularly among underserved communities.
- Medical-dental integration medical-dental_integrationSupports integration of dental care into broader medical care models, particularly for vulnerable populations, based on the theory that oral health is integral to overall health and coordinated care improves outcomes.
- Medical-dental integration to improve overall health medical-dental integrationSupports integration of dental and medical care, particularly for vulnerable populations, based on the theory that oral health is integral to systemic health and coordinated models yield better clinical outcomes.
- Member-centered care access member-centered_care_accessSimplifies access to dental care and reduces administrative burden for members, with the theory that lowering barriers to navigation and enrollment improves care utilization and health outcomes.
- Member-centered care access to improve experience and outcomes member-centered care accessSimplifies access to dental care and reduces administrative burden for members, based on the theory that lowering barriers to navigation and enrollment improves care utilization and health outcomes.
- Network-based cost incentive model network-based_cost_incentive_modelOffers access to two dental networks (PPO and Premier), with financial incentives structured to encourage members to use PPO dentists, thereby reducing costs and promoting cost-conscious care decisions.
- Network-based cost incentive model to guide provider selection network-based cost incentive modelOffers access to two dental networks (PPO and Premier), with financial incentives structured to encourage members to use PPO dentists, thereby reducing costs and promoting cost-conscious care decisions.
- Partnership leverage for mission advancement partnership_leverageBuilds and leverages strategic partnerships to expand reach, strengthen capacity, and amplify impact in advancing oral health, particularly through collaborations with media and community organizations.
- Stakeholder education and engagement stakeholder_educationProvides targeted educational resources to dental professionals, HR administrators, and members to improve understanding of benefits and oral health, thereby increasing utilization and effectiveness of care.
- Stakeholder education to increase engagement and health literacy stakeholder_educationProvides targeted educational resources to dental professionals, HR administrators, employees, and members to improve understanding of benefits and oral health, thereby increasing utilization and informed decision-making.
named programs · 7
what they call their work
Children's Writing Contest
Annual contest co-sponsored with Arizona PBS to engage children in creative writing while promoting oral health awareness
Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation
Provides grants to nonprofits for oral health programs, including children's dental care, adult dental services, and nutritional access initiatives
Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation Grant Program
Annual grant cycle funding community initiatives focused on oral health, nutritional access, and adult dental programs
Dental Discount Card Program
Launch of an affordable dental discount card to expand access to care for uninsured and underinsured individuals, including gig workers
Mouth-Healthy Cookbook
Collaborative initiative with NOAH (Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health) to produce and distribute a free, nutrition-focused cookbook promoting oral health, available in English and Spanish
Oral Health Education with Arizona PBS
Partnership with Arizona PBS to create and broadcast educational programming on children's oral health
TeamSmile Partnership
Collaboration with TeamSmile and the Arizona Coyotes to provide free oral health care and education to children at Tempe Elementary School District
relationships · 26
who they work with
- A New Leaf Partner — Provided a financial contribution to A New Leaf, a nonprofit dental provider, as part of an employee-directed donation initiative.
- Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers Partner — Leadership and collaboration in community health initiatives.
- Arizona Coyotes Foundation Partner — Mark Anderson served on the local charitable board
- Arizona Dental Foundation Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of the Arizona Dental Foundation.
- Arizona Department of Health Services Partner — Collaborates on public health functions related to oral health.
- Arizona Helping Hands Partner — Leslie Hess previously served on the board of directors
- Arizona PBS Partner — Collaborates with Arizona PBS on the Children's Writing Contest to promote oral health education among youth.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Partner — Collaborated on statewide health improvement strategies prior to current role.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health Government — Former affiliation where staff provided epidemiological support for oral disease prevention.
- Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation Partner — Board member Gary Jones served on the Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation Board, which sponsors the Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy each year.
- Delta Dental Plans Association Network — Leslie Hess coordinates government affairs and advocacy initiatives with this national association
- Desert Financial Credit Union Partner — Mark Anderson serves as associate board director
- Junior Golf Association of Arizona Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona.
- NOAH Partner — Co-produced the "Mouth-Healthy Cookbook" with NOAH, a community health organization, to promote nutrition and oral health.
- Salt River Project Association Council Partner — Board member Michael Warren sits on the Salt River Project Association Council, an elected position assisting in the governance of the company.
- Save the Family Partner — Jolean Fleck is a member of the board of directors
- Southwest Human Development Partner — Mark Anderson served on the local charitable board
- Special Olympics of Arizona Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of the Special Olympics of Arizona.
- St. Francis Xavier Advisory Board Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of the St. Francis Xavier Advisory Board.
- St. Francis Xavier Capitol Campaign Committee Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of the St. Francis Xavier Capitol Campaign Committee.
- St. Vincent de Paul Partner — Engages in volunteer service activities with St. Vincent de Paul as part of community outreach efforts.
- St. Vincent de Paul Partner — Operates the Delta Dental Oral Health Center at St. Vincent de Paul.
- TeamSmile Partner — Partners with TeamSmile to provide oral health care services, including events at elementary schools.
- The Thunderbird Charities Partner — Board member Michael Warren has sat on the board of The Thunderbird Charities.
- Warburg Pincus Partner — Shahzad Shah serves as a senior advisor to this global private equity firm
- We Serve Foundation Partner — Board member Shaharyar Ashraf has been affiliated with the We Serve Foundation.