G-2403-20321

Children’s Action Alliance (CAA) is an organization that identifies and eliminates barriers to the well-being of children and families and creates opportunities through partnerships and policy solutions. CAA has been the fiscal sponsor for the Arizona Oral Health Coalition (ACOHZ) since 2019. 

CareQuest Institute has supported CAA since 2015, supporting work related to children’s oral health, coalition-building, and advocacy for a Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit in Arizona. CAA has been an effective partner in coalition-building and co-developing data reports with the Analytics & Data Insights team to advocate for expansion of benefits in the state of AZ. Outcomes of their most recent CareQuest Institute grant include elevating oral health at the state capitol through the “Oral Health is Essential Campaign”, securing a strong Republican champion in Senator TJ Shope, and aligning advocates around a long-term strategy to continue leveraging data secured in 2023 to educate lawmakers on the long term benefits of an adult dental benefit. Additionally, CAA/AZOHC continued talking to Arizonans most impacted by oral health disparity through facilitating a lived experience advisory group and continues to hear that access to oral health care is a top concern and major barrier to wellness – especially for rural and low-income Arizonans and Tribal members.

Through the Policy and Advocacy Subprogram, CAA/ACOHZ seeks to build on the strong relationships forged this past grant cycle with key stakeholders and influential lawmakers to elevate the voices of impacted Arizonans and continue leveraging data to support the passage of a comprehensive adult dental benefit in 2025/2026 legislation sessions. To this end, AZOHC will work with the AZOHC Advocacy Committee to develop a multi-year advocacy strategy for the passage of an adult dental benefit in Medicaid, including community member and partner organization voices in the development of tactics and goals, work with Children’s Action Alliance, Arizona Dental Hygienists Association, and AZOHC Advocacy Committee to plan and coordinate Oral Health Day at the Capitol, growing student and diverse stakeholder involvement, provide public and stakeholder education and advocacy through webinars, listening sessions, and town halls, and continue to grow “Oral Health is Essential” comprehensive dental benefit campaign by maintaining the campaign landing page and social media account, and creating opportunities to elevate the campaign amongst a diverse audience. They will also develop an advocacy toolkit to share with partners and elevate Arizona’s oral health work nationally at meetings, conferences, or events.

This request is for $170,118, which is less than 2% of the organization’s overall budget. The grant funds will support staff, travel, meetings and conference expenses, and marketing efforts.