G-1901-14727

The purpose of this grant is to continue to build the capacity of healthcare consumers in California to meaningfully engage in policy and systems change; to improve the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health; to enhance collaborative, cross-blade infrastructure processes, shared power, and decision-making; and to elevate health equity and social justice approaches within the Oral Health Progress and Equity Network that are fully informed by, and reflective of, community voices. The work in this proposal looks at galvanizing community and grassroots voice across the state to move oral health policy forward, protect existing policies that support oral health equity, increase community education and outreach activities, and continuing to strengthen the capacity of the GLOs. This work builds on previous years as alignment amongst all of California GLOs has gotten more clean and intentional around the California Oral Health Network and as CPEHN has worked to move GLOs into positions of leadership across the state. This aligns with the Oral Health 2020 goal of shifting the public perception of oral health with a target of increasing oral health in overall health dialogue and in public policy. The budget for this proposal is $70,800 and is primarily to support staff time towards these efforts as well as some mini-grants and stipends for community partners to engage at a higher level.