1409-11381

Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas: This investment supports the Michigan Oral Health Coalition to partner with Oral Health Kansas and the Wisconsin Oral Health Coalition to develop a Midwest collaborative to formally connect local stakeholders to the state and national stakeholders in the oral health movement. Each state will engage in local coalition building, providing technical assistance and guidance to participating communities as they develop strategic oral health plans that align with each community�s identified Oral Health 2020 targets and goals. This regional network will connect local coalitions to state and national networks, develop a common vision of systems change necessary for an oral health movement, and provide participating communities with access to resources, knowledge, and oral health data necessary to enact large-scale change. $560,078 will support personnel time, including state community development specialists and a Midwest Manager to provide technical assistance and resources to local coalitions; consultant services focused on applying facilitative leadership skills; local community grants to support participation in the work; and travel and administrative costs necessary for the successful implementation of this proposal. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal 4 of eradicating dental disease in children and the target that With the closing of disparity gaps, 85% of children reach age 5 without a cavity.