G-2405-21759

Florida Voices for Health (FVH) is a coalition of community organizations, businesses, and individuals working to reform health and oral health care and coverage in Florida. In FVH’s role as conveners of the Florida Oral Health Alliance (FOHA) and the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), the organization continues to organize and mobilize partners around campaigns to change policy and engage communities.

FVH is a returning CareQuest Institute Grantee, who has received funds since 2021 towards oral health advocacy by establishing working relationships with stakeholders representing each part of Florida’s oral health system. While prioritizing community voices through story banking (roundtables, one-on-one interviews) and grassroots organizing, FVH has highlighted the systemic barriers communities of color, rural communities, and the disabilities communities face when accessing oral health. Within the last year, FVH has worked to strengthen its infrastructure for partnerships and bring new partner organizations into its work from health coalitions, state agencies, and other leaders throughout the state. As a result, during the state’s 2024 legislative cycle, unofficially dubbed the “Live Healthy” session, FVH used the opportunity to highlight the importance of oral health and secured increased Medicaid reimbursements ($34 million in recurring funds) for dental providers.

FVH’s proposal outlines a continuation of their three-part advocacy model which includes creating effective campaign entry points, establishing consistent spaces for organizing, and offering regular opportunities to act. Applying lessons learned, this cycle will further expand the different components of the model to achieve greater impact. FVH will offer more “entry points” into campaigns and overall advocacy infrastructure, including one-on-one story collection, roundtable conversations, community events, and online actions. The advocacy model will also expand to new regions of Florida, including rural communities and faith-based communities. Finally, to further strengthen the coalition-base for Medicaid adult dental benefit, FVH will identify new partners to serve as advocates as the organization continues to meet with and educate policymakers. Building on its recent legislative success, FVHs will engage with newly identified legislative champions and push for the inclusion of the Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit in 2024.

The recommended amount totals $175,000, which is a slight reduction from the organization’s original request. Of that amount, approximately 70% of the funds will be allocated to six personnel roles, matching support with all but one position. The remaining portion of the budget will be used to cover consultant, communications and associated with their legislative outreach. This request represents 28% of the organization’s operating budget.