From the Journal of the Colorado Dental Association Autumn 2024
Colorado has convened a statewide network committed to increasing access to opportunities to achieve optimal oral health. The coalition’s mission is to advance equitable oral health outcomes for all Coloradans by utilizing a collective impact approach. The coalition is led by the Public Health Institute at Denver Health and works with a diverse range of stakeholders, including healthcare providers, community organizations, and oral health experts to address the systemic barriers that prevent many Coloradans from receiving adequate dental care.
A Colorado oral health coalition, known as the Oral Health Colorado, previously existed from 2003 to 2019 and was responsible for many oral health equity achievements, including Cavity Free at Three, but ultimately dissolved due to a lack of sustainable funding and declining participation. In 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Oral Health Unit (OHU) began convening partners and stakeholders to develop a state oral health plan. Through many engagement opportunities and planning sessions, the oral health network partners identified several goals and strategies. The resulting Framework to Advance Oral Health Equity in Colorado (Framework)[i], co-developed with communities and stakeholders, identified the need for a coalition.
The Framework includes Goal 4: Collective Impact: Coordinate oral health efforts across the state to align strategies, leverage shared resources, and integrate actions of community and private and public sectors to improve oral health and address oral health inequities.
The coalition had its official kick off meeting on July 31 and will continue to meet every other month on the first Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. In the next few months, the coalition will be focusing on efforts to increase community engagement and community leadership within the coalition, developing an action plan, and discussing opportunities to align oral health access efforts across the state.
Dentists are at the forefront of oral healthcare and are uniquely positioned to drive progress in the coalition’s goals by promoting oral health education, advocating for policy change and addressing oral health equity.
The coalition’s intention is to make significant strides toward improving oral health outcomes across the state. Achieving its goals requires the active participation of all stakeholders, including dentists. If you are interested in participating in the coalition, contact Andrea Pascual, andrea.pascual@dhha.org.
[i]https://coloradooralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/A-Framework-to-Advance-Oral-Health-Equity-in-Colorado-2023.pdf
