G-2309-19895

The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) is a nonprofit, consumer-oriented, membership-based health advocacy organization that serves Coloradans whose access to health care is compromised by structural barriers, affordability, poor benefits, or unfair business practices of the health care industry.

CCHI was a funded partner of CareQuest Institute for the first time in 2021. During the grant year, the organization successfully executed and disseminated results from a Consumer Oral Health Assessment. CCHI’s work in 2023 was directly informed by this assessment, along with data from CCHI’s existing Consumer Assistance Program and Community Advisory Board. CCHI has worked tirelessly over the past two years to make a case for rebuilding the Colorado Oral Health Coalition, which dissolved in 2019, with a community voice focus instead of the traditional institutional voice. Through CCHI’s dedication, a vote was passed by the interested organizations to open an RFA to a 501c3 to convene a COHC, with a community driven focus. CCHI is currently drafting their application to apply for the RFA.

CCHI is requesting funds to support organizing, community and stakeholder engagement, research and policy analysis, communications, and advocacy efforts. CCHI will have created a draft policy agenda for oral health equity under their current grant and will continue to refine that agenda and the policy opportunities that should be prioritized by engaging community members and grassroots organizations to ensure community voices are centered. CCHI will advocate for shifts in federal and state policy in private insurance and public programs that advance more robust access to oral health coverage and care. Additionally, the organization will analyze and respond to other policies brought forward in the oral health space as needed and will work to ensure community needs are reflected and addressed.

This request represents 12% of the organization’s overall budget. About $100,000 of the budget is associated with staff time. An additional $40,000 of the budget is dedicated to sub-grants for partner organizations to support their outreach to underserved community members as part of the coalition-building work. Other budget line items are associated with translation and interpretation services for workshops and presentation materials, social media campaign costs, and travel fees for meetings.