1706-13348

This investment supports the Campaign for Dental Health (CDH), housed in the American Academy of Pediatrics, to help equip public health advocates and key national stakeholders with the resources and tools necessary to promote community water fluoridation (CWF) efforts across the country. Specifically, CDH will promote and defend CWF within and beyond the network of oral health advocates; recruit key organizations working on civil rights, equity, and social determinants of health to partner with CDH; collaborate with local, state, and national organizations to elevate the visibility of oral health and raise awareness of the needs of those most affected by dental disease; promote health equity in oral health advocacy; and hold a convening to engage traditional and non-traditional stakeholders in efforts to develop and spread a national CWF strategy based on the Healthy Communities model of community development. The materials developed by CDH will provide evidence-based information and resources to advocates, community members, water operators, and policymakers so that they can make informed decisions and improve the public perception of the value of oral health. The proposed strategy aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of eradicating dental disease in children and the target of closing disparity gaps so that 85% of children reach age five without a cavity. $224,992 will be used to support personnel time necessary for the coordination and execution of the proposal, travel, and meeting costs for convening key stakeholders.