G-1901-14741

This investment supports the United Way of Roanoke Valley (UWRV) to act as a lead convener of the Healthy Roanoke Valley partnership as part of the Grassroots Engagement Strategy. UWRV’s oral health work focuses on making oral healthcare more accessible; improving oral health knowledge, perception and behaviors; and continuing to develop infrastructure for grassroots engagement and advocacy around oral health and overall health. In the coming year, UWRV will increase local knowledge of the importance of oral health care and ways to access care; advocate for a comprehensive adult dental benefit in Medicaid; integrate oral health into community nutrition and education programs, including a sugar-sweetened beverage campaign; and continue to develop and expand regional partnerships. $70,800 will support staff time, local travel, communications materials development, and other meeting expenses. 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.