As the Kentucky 2022 General Assembly comes to a close, KOHC reflects on policy and budget wins from the legislative session and missed opportunities. Throughout the session, Kentuckians called on lawmakers to prioritize their health and wellbeing – including policies that are good for oral health. One of the core functions of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is advocating for policies and budget priorities that are good for oral health in Kentucky. KOHC supports the health and [...]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an important time to remember that everyone has a role to play in keeping communities safe for kids to grow and thrive. Oral health professionals are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect as it is estimated that nearly 50% of injuries occur on the head and neck. During April, KOHC continues our work with Delta Dental of Kentucky and the Face It Movement to recognize Child Abuse [...]

Earlier this month, Congress made a commitment to the nation's most vulnerable children by investing in school-based health services. Signed into federal law on Tuesday March 15, the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations package includes $30 million for school-based health centers. This is a $25 million increase from fiscal year 2021, which will allow for more services to be provided and is a tremendous win for children and families across the U.S. In addition, the U.S. Health [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members and oral health stakeholders from across the state convened virtually for the first KOHC quarterly meeting of 2022 on Friday, March 25. We kicked off the meeting with a welcome from our steering committee chair, Dr. Stephanie Poynter. Alicia Whatley, Policy and Advocacy Analyst at Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), presented updates on KOHC policy and budget priorities in the 2022 session, highlighting the status of KOHC agenda items and other relevant [...]

Announcement from the Board of Dentistry on the COVID-19 State of Emergency ending:On March 22, 2022, the General Assembly approved final passage of SJR 150, which officially ended the COVID-related state of emergency in Kentucky. While licensees may return to practicing under pre-pandemic conditions, they can and should use their professional judgement to continue with any COVID protocols they deem appropriate for their unique staff and patient environment.The passage of SJR 150 also marks the end of the Board's suspension of 201 KAR [...]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an important time to remember that everyone has a role to play in keeping communities safe for kids to grow and thrive. Oral health professionals are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect as it is estimated that nearly 50% of injuries occur on the head and neck. Throughout the month of April, KOHC continues our partnership with Delta Dental of Kentucky and the Face It [...]

For most Kentuckians, March is a sacred time of basketball and brackets. For our school nutrition professionals and students, however, March is also the home of National School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month. Throughout the pandemic, one slam dunk for kids has been the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, which ensure kids across Kentucky have access to at least two meals a day during the school year and one a day during the summer months. [...]

Karina Barillas and Eva Melissa Astudillo, La Casita Center – Guest Contributors In December 2021, La Casita Center in Louisville, Kentucky, conducted a survey to members of their community including those who are Latinx, immigrant, or Spanish-speaking to better understand the community’s utilization of health insurance, telehealth services, and barriers to accessing coverage and care. Project designed by the consulting team of La Casita Center in collaboration with Kentucky Youth Advocates. Data was collected via [...]

Since March 2020 COVID-19 has been making headlines, especially in the oral health field. Now, nearly two years later, the conversation is shifting – away from dental office closures, limited capacity, and infection control procedures to the clinical outcomes that are becoming more apparent to dental professionals. In partnership with the Kentucky Primary Care Association, KOHC gathered insights from oral health professionals around the state about the impact of COVID-19 on oral health. The findings, [...]

As the Kentucky legislature considers hundreds of bills and prioritizes investments in the next biennial state budget, it’s imperative that we as a Commonwealth ensure that all Kentuckians, including our youngest, have access to the support they need for their healthy development – and a healthy mouth. We know that health impacts every aspect of a child’s life and is a key component of overall child wellbeing. The strong connection between good oral health and overall [...]