Michigan Oral Health Coalition January 30, 2008 Sheraton Hotel Lansing, Michigan

1. Michigan Oral Health Coalition January 30, 2008 Sheraton Hotel Lansing, Michigan CHILD-2A1 oralhealthcoalition.013008sb

2. Greater Flint Health Coalition’s Commitment to Children’s Oral Health

3. Greater Flint Health Coalition • 1992—The Beginning • Several community leaders formed the GFHC to examine issues affecting Genesee County’s health status • Mission: • Improve the health status of our residents. • Improve the quality and cost effectiveness of the health care system in our community

4. Greater Flint Health Coalition A Broad-based Coalition

5. GFHC Board of Directors:

6. GFHC Board of Directors:

7. GFHC Board of Directors:

8. Children’s Oral Health Education Campaign History • Mott Children’s Health Center brought the issue of children’s oral health to the Coalition • It is estimated that approximately 14,000 children in Genesee County lack access to dental care • Two reasons were identified: • Lack of knowledge regarding the importance of oral health • Lack of dentists serving the low income population • The Workgroup was convened in December 2005 and decided to pursue a Social Marketing Campaign.

9. Children’s Oral Health Education Campaign History, cont. • The Children’s Oral Health Wheel was developed as an educational tool to utilize in the community. • Focus groups were conducted to gain feedback on the Social Marketing Campaign slogans and materials • Meanwhile 288 measurement surveys were created and administered by partner organizations to measure the community’s baseline understanding of children’s oral health • To date, over 56,000 Children’s Oral Health Developmental Wheels have been distributed. The wheels have also been translated to a Spanish version.

10. Additional Accomplishments • In collaboration, the Genesee District Dental Society (GDDS) representative has been able to inform and recruit local dentists to perform “well baby oral exams”, and support the Workgroup efforts with information on billboards and the GDDS Website. • Mott Children’s Health Center has developed and administered over 60 surveys to assess the Hispanic/Latino community’s perception of dental care. This is an ongoing effort. • An oral health display will be at the Flint Children’s museum during the month of February for National Children’s Dental Health month. • An oral health poster has recently been finalized and will be distributed throughout local dental and medical offices.

11. Children’s Oral Health Education Campaign Workgroup Partners • Department of Human Services • Genesee County Community Action Resource Department • Genesee County Health Department • Genesee District Dental Society * • Genesee Intermediate School District • Hamilton Community Health Network • Hurley Medical Center * • Interpreter Translations Consulting Services • Mott Children’s Health Center * • Priority Children • Ready, Set, Grow! Passport • Community Members * Financial Contributors • Dental Care Providers

12. Children’s Oral Health Access Task Force • Convened to further tackle the issue of lack of dental care access for the County’s children. Specifically to: • Identify barriers to dental services for children ages 0-5 years, with attention to those barriers encountered by children covered by Medicaid or uninsured, and design strategies to target their causes • Implement interventions to eliminate the access barriers to children’s dental services

13. Children’s Oral Health Access Task Force Accomplishments • Through Mott Children’s Health Center, an educational presentation and training was developed to provide information on oral health exams for infants and toddlers. • The Genesee District Dental Society has been able to recruit dentists to provide exams to children ages 0 – 5. • Attention has been brought to the issue of the importance of linking medical and dental providers.

14. Children’s Oral Health Access Task Force Partners • Genesee County Community Resource Action Department • Hamilton Community Health Network • Mott Children’s Health Center • Mott Community College • Dental Care Providers

15. Lessons Learned • In order to produce effective change, it is important to not only engage dental providers, but also community members and those providers working directly with the population intending to be reached.