G-1901-14726

This investment supports the Berks County Community Foundation (BCCF) to act as a lead grassroots convener in Pennsylvania as part of the Grassroots Engagement Strategy. As a community foundation, BCCF has a well-developed network of partnerships throughout the community working towards improved quality of life for residents. BCCF’s key successes in Year 4 included supporting pediatricians and PCPs with consistent oral health messaging for families; increasing the number of non-clinical settings that provide oral health services; and educating new parents and caregivers about oral health best practices for children under 5. An investment of $70,800 will be used to strengthen dental home capacity of the local FQHC; disseminate consistent messaging and guidelines around under-5 oral health to providers and community partners; maintain an online resources hub; provide mini grants to community partners; and develop a sustainability plan. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal 6 of improving the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health and the target that oral health is increasingly included in health dialogue and public policy.