1509-11491

Maryland: Support to the Maryland Dental Action Coalition (MDAC) to serve the function of backbone organization to the oral health network in Maryland by connecting and bridging activities and engaging new traditional and non-traditional partners. In addition to continuing to expand and diversify Maryland’s oral health network, MDAC will work to increase oral health literacy of residents of Maryland, improve oral health knowledge of dental and primary care providers and other professionals who work with children, parents, and pregnant women, and advance oral health policy priorities through its strong partnerships with legislators, state agencies, and other stakeholders. By doing so, MDAC will help attain a shared understanding of the multiple factors that influence the health system and identify leverage points that can improve the state of Maryland’s oral health landscape. The proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of eradicating dental disease in children and the target that 85% of children reach age five without a cavity. $166,434 will be used to support personnel time and expenses related to the project’s implementation.