1703-13205

Support to Community Catalyst to strengthen policy and advocacy efforts at the state-level, enhance and implement the Oral Health 2020 six state strategy, and provide capacity building and promote shared learning within the boarder OH2020 Network among grantees and network partners. To achieve the outcomes of this project, Community Catalyst has proposed a hybrid skill building and network enhancement strategy using their six core “System of Advocacy” capacities across two tiers of support: 1) advocacy training & capacity building for the existing OH2020 Network; 2) tailored technical assistance and advocacy campaign development for up to two target states. Specific activities for year one include: generalized trainings on Community Catalyst’s System of Advocacy and incorporating elements of their “learning community” model, which includes peer-to-peer networking, collaboration and resource sharing; and working with DQF to identify two states to provide technical assistance and 1:1 coaching to a select number of grantees. At the center of the 1:1 TA is building trusting relationships that allow advocates to see Community Catalyst as a support system by providing “just in time” support. Community Catalyst will support grantees as they determine their campaign priorities, prepare for meetings with key policymakers, state officials and stakeholders, discern their role within the various commissions, workgroups and advisory committees and become increasingly more knowledgeable contributors to a pro-oral health agenda. $310,000 will help support project/TA staffing, travel for Community Catalyst staff within the target states, and convening and teleconferencing capacity necessary to implement the project. The proposal primarily aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal to improve the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health and a target that oral health is increasingly included in health dialogue and public policy.