Education & Leadership

Learning Framework

The Empowering Transformation for Community Health (ETCH) Framework guides AIDPH educational programming and our approach to broader community engagement. Drawing from the Transformative Learning Framework and the Empowerment Education Framework, our ETCH Framework incorporates adult learning principles that enhance personal and professional development while complementing traditional academic pursuits.

Classroom with a variety of adult learners

Transformative Learning Elements

FOSTER CRITICAL REFLECTION

Challenge assumptions and transform perspectives.

PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Facilitate dialogue, collaboration, and collective action.

TACKLE HEALTH DISPARITIES

Address social, political, and environmental determinants, and inspire action for equity.

Empowering Education Elements

CULTIVATE CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Empower individuals as change agents in their communities.

BOOST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Encourage participation in problem-solving, decision-making, and oral health equity advocacy.

ANALYZE POWER STRUCTURES

Help advocates to disrupt oppressive systems using a health justice approach.

The AIDPH Academy

Explore a range of professional development opportunities tailored for oral health stakeholders seeking dental public health training without the constraints of formal education programs. AIDPH specializes in immersive, short-term, and cost-effective training initiatives, providing oral health professionals with a rigorous platform to enhance their skills. Our flexible educational environment empowers individuals to sharpen their capacity and contribute to the development of equitable oral health solutions.