1608-12388

California: This investments support The Children’s Partnership (TCP) to engage local and state stakeholders to elevate the voice of children’s oral health in California and support multi-partner, collaborative efforts to shape a statewide policy/advocacy strategy that aligns with a systems change approach to improve children’s access to oral health care, the quality and effectiveness of care that is delivered in local, community-based sites, and the value that the public places on oral health as it relates to overall health. In 2016/17, TCP’s renewal work will be even more focused on engaging communities—especially communities of color—in identifying and pursuing solutions to close the oral health gap for underserved children and families in California. Specially, TCP will work to strengthening the voice of grassroots communities in the effort to achieve oral health equity by partnering with the OH2020 grassroots leads to identify community-driven policy solutions; TCP will lead efforts to ensure implementation of the State Oral Health Plan focuses on systems change and addresses racial and ethnic disparities; support implementation of the DTI of the Medi-Cal 2020 Waiver addresses its goals of increasing the number of children enrolled in Medi-Cal; continue the promotion the implementation of the VDH through California’s communities; strengthen the role of home visiting programs and community health workers/promotores; and raise awareness of the value of oral health to overall health through advocacy/outreach within the CA Legislature by influencing legislation, educating the Administration, and presenting to local, state, and national audiences. A grant of $211,100 will support personnel time to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and coordinate ongoing collaborative efforts that promote oral health; communications and marketing materials to share key policy updates and action items with the network; travel and meeting expenses necessary for the implementation of this work. This proposal is aligned with the Oral Health 2020 goal of improving the public perception of the value of oral health and the target that by 2020, oral health is increasingly included in health dialogue and public policy.