FIRST TEETH FIRST - SHAHEALTH MOU.PDF

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 
Between 
MARICOPA COUNTY 
By and through the 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
4041 N. Central Avenue, #1400, Phoenix, Arizona 85012 
And 
SHAHealth 
 
 
Background 
 
Poor oral health can have a detrimental impact on a children’s quality of life, their performance at 
school, and their success in life. In fact, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year in 
Arizona due to dental-related illness. An expectant mother’s poor oral health has been associated 
with preterm birth and low birth weight, and it can increase the risk of dental decay for their 
child/ren.   
 
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health-Office of Oral Health (MCDPH-OOH) 
requests that SHAHealth join MCDPH-OOH in partnership to prevent tooth decay and improve 
the health of their clients.   
 
This partnership will bring the First Teeth First Program to SHAHealth (4700 N 51st Ave Suite 5, 
Phoenix, AZ 85031.) and will provide dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications to 
children 0-5 years and dental screenings for expectant mothers at no cost to participants.  
The First Teeth First Program has been in existence since 2011 and is funded by First Things First.  
During the 2019-2020 grant period more than 12,000 children were screened throughout Maricopa 
County and over 1,200 expectant mothers received dental screenings.  
Dental screenings and fluoride varnish applications are non-invasive and pain free. Fluoride 
varnish applications are evidence based and have proven safe and effective in the reduction of 
tooth decay. We also know that preventive oral health care is linked to improvements in overall 
health and well-being.  With an integrated Medical-Dental delivery system we can expand access 
to care as well as improve patient outcomes.

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This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is hereby made and entered into by and between 
the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, hereinafter referred to as MCDPH and the Wesley 
Community and Health Centers, hereinafter referred to as SHAHEALTH. 
A. 
PURPOSE 
The purpose of this MOU is to develop a framework of cooperation and partnership between MCDPH, and 
SHAHEALTH to provide The First Teeth First Program to eligible clients for the prevention of tooth decay.  
B. 
STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTERESTS   
The mutual benefit for both parties is the prevention of tooth decay for clients and referral and navigation 
services to a dental home.  
C. 
MCDPH SHALL 
• 
Provide registered dental hygienists and bilingual site assistants to conduct basic dental screenings 
to children birth through age 5 and fluoride varnish applications.  
• 
Provide basic dental screenings to expectant mothers. 
• 
Check State Board of Dental Examiners licensing records on licensed MCDPH dental providers; 
conduct background checks of all dental providers.  
• 
Require all staff to have a current fingerprint clearance card on file with the program.  
• 
Provide adequate staffing for shifts assigned to health centers.  
• 
Communicate with clinic manager when services will not be provided at clinic.  
• 
Bring all necessary dental supplies needed to conduct the dental screening activities while on site.  
• 
Provide referral and navigation services to clients in need of a dental home.  
• 
Provide oral health education materials to staff and clients.  
• 
Provide summary reports for each clinic, which will include number of children screened, 
varnished, expectant mothers screened, and clients with urgent dental needs. These reports will be 
provided on a quarterly basis.  
• 
Maintain all client information according to confidentiality requirements.  
• 
Submit fluoride varnish application claims for children two through five years of age on AHCCCS 
that receive fluoride varnish applications by First Teeth First staff.  
 
D. 
SHAHEALTH SHALL  
 
• 
Promote participation in the dental screenings to clients of the clinic.  
• 
Provide adequate physical space at each clinic for dental screenings to be delivered to clients of 
SHAHEALTH. The space at each clinic will include at a minimum: 
1. Space for FTF staff to complete paperwork and data entry.  
2. Provide storage for dental supplies to be stored on site. 
3. Accessible electrical outlet. 
• 
Communicate with FTF staff when an SHAHEALTH patient is eligible and interested in FTF 
services. 
• 
SHAHEALTH shall encourage patients that are having a well child visit to see FTF for their EPSDT 
oral health screening. 
• 
Communicate if child is there for a well child visit.  
• 
Provide Wi-Fi access to FTF staff for data entry purposes.

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E. 
IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES 
THAT:  
 
 
 
1. 
This instrument is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document.  Any endeavor or  
 
 
transfer of anything of value involving reimbursement or contribution of funds between  
 
 
the parties to this instrument will be handled in accordance with applicable laws,   
 
 
regulations, and procedures including those for Government procurement and printing.   
 
 
Such endeavors will be outlined in separate agreements that shall be made in writing by  
 
 
representatives of the parties and shall be independently authorized by appropriate  
 
 
statutory authority.  This instrument does not provide such authority.  Specifically, this  
 
 
instrument does not establish authority for noncompetitive award to the cooperator of any 
 
 
contract or other agreement.    
 
 
2. 
EFFECTIVE DATE 
 
 
This agreement will begin 08:30 A.M. on March 1, 2022. 
 
 
3. 
EXPIRATION DATE 
 
 
This agreement will end as of 11:59 P.M. on February 28, 2023 but may be  
 
 
 
renewable for an additional one year by mutual consent.  
 
4. 
MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT 
 
Modifications within the scope of the instrument shall be made by mutual consent of the 
 
parties, by the issuance of a written modification or amendment, signed and dated by all 
 
parties, prior to any changes being enacted.  
 
5. 
TERMINATION 
 
Any of the parties, in writing, may terminate the instrument in whole, or in part, at any 
time before the date of expiration. A 30-day notice of termination of services will be 
required by both parties.  
 
6. 
CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY 
Both parties understand and concur that this agreement is subject to all State and Federal 
laws protecting client confidentiality.  Client/patient confidentiality will be maintained 
equally for all individuals presenting for services whether being provided by 
SHAHEALTH or MCDPH.  The use or disclosure by either party of any information 
concerning an eligible individual served under this agreement is directly limited to the 
fulfillment of this agreement.   
 
7. 
LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS 
 
Both parties understand and concur that this agreement is subject to all State and Federal 
 
laws, rules and regulations that pertain hereto. 
 
8.  
PARTICIPATION IN SIMILAR ACTIVITIES 
 
This agreement in no way restricts MCDPH or SHAHEALTH from participating in similar 
 
activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals. 
 
9.  
NON-LIABILITY 
Neither MCDPH, SHAHEALTH, nor their respective officers and employees shall be 
liable for any act or omission by the other party or other party’s subcontractor, employee, 
officer,  agent, or representative occurring in the fulfillment of this agreement.

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10.  
INDEMNITY 
MCDPH agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend SHAHEALTH, its officers and 
employees from and against any and all claims, damages, suits and proceedings, regardless 
of the merits, from liability, punitive damages, costs or expense of every type, all or any 
part thereof arising out of or in connection with or by reason of any negligent act or 
omission of MCDPH or any subcontractors or anyone directly or indirectly employed by 
either MCDPH or any subcontractors in the performance of this MOU. MCDPH and its 
subcontractors shall reimburse SHAHEALTH for its costs, including attorney’s fees for 
defense of any litigation arising from such claim.  MCDPH shall include a clause to this 
effect in all subcontracts inuring to the benefit of SHAHEALTH. 
 
Similarly, SHAHEALTH agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend MCDPH, its 
officers and employees from and against any and all claims, damages, suits and 
proceedings, regardless of the merits, from liability, punitive damages, costs or expense of 
every type, all or any part thereof arising out of or in connection with or by reason of any 
negligent act or omission of SHAHEALTH or any subcontractors or anyone directly or 
indirectly employed by either SHAHEALTH or any subcontractors in the performance of 
this MOU. SHAHEALTH and its subcontractors shall reimburse MCDPH for its costs, 
including attorney’s fees for defense of any litigation arising from such claim.  
SHAHEALTH shall include a clause to this effect in all subcontracts inuring to the benefit 
of MCDPH and Maricopa County.  
 
 
11.  
COMMUNICATION 
 
Each party agrees to notify the other, in writing, of changes in policy which may affect 
 
this agreement. Notification is to be made to the attention of the principal contacts 
 
identified in Section 12 below. 
 
12.  
PRINCIPAL CONTACTS 
 
The principal contacts for this agreement are: 
 
Maricopa County, Department of Public Health        
Berenise Bauer 
First Teeth First Program Coordinator                             Chief Operating Officer  
Phone: 602-372-4650 
 
 
 
            Phone:  
E-mail: Berenise.Bauer@maricopa.gov   
            Email:  
 
Dejanee Lambert  
Grant/Contract Administrator 
Phone:  602-372-0674 
E-mail: Dejanee.Lambert@maricopa.gov

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties agree to the changes indicated herein: 
 
 
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF  
 
 
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF 
MARICOPA COUNTY  
 
 
SHAHEALTH 
 
 
 
By ___________________________ 
 
By ____________________________ 
 
Bill Gates, Chairman, Board of Supervisors 
 
       
 
 
 
_______________________________  
________________________________  
 
Date 
 
 
 
 
 
Date 
 
 
 
 
ATTEST: 
 
 
________________________________  
 
 
Clerk of the Board 
 
 
 
 
 
 
________________________________ 
 
Date 
 
 
APPROVED AS TO FORM 
 
 
 
 
 
________________________________    
 
 
Attorney for Maricopa County  
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:  __________________________