1712-13628

This investment supports The Children’s Partnership (TCP) to continue its collaborative, systems-change approach to improving 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 the past year, TCP focused on engaging communities—especially communities of color—to identify and pursue solutions to close the oral health gap for underserved children and families in California. Their work in 2018 will build on this foundation. Specifically, TCP will play a key role in implementing the State Oral Health Plan and Dental Transformation Initiative; lead oral health education and engagement with immigrant, migrant, and border communities; collaborate with state partners and other Oral Health 2020 grantees to strengthen California’s oral health infrastructure and community-based programs for children; leverage Proposition 56 funding for oral health; and advocate on statewide and national policy issues related to oral health and health equity. These objectives align with a number of the OH 2020 goals, including: the eradication of dental disease in children; the incorporation of oral health into the primary education system; and the improvement of the public’s perception of the value of oral health to overall health. $237,925 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; and travel and meeting expenses necessary for the implementation of this work.