October is Dental Hygiene Month, when we celebrate the important work of dental hygienists in our communities and raise awareness of the importance of oral health. KOHC recognizes and appreciates the essential services that our dental hygienists provide, as well as how strongly they inform our work toward oral health education and improved access to oral health care.  This month, several of our KOHC members who are dental hygienists weighed in on what they want [...]

As we welcome cooler temperatures and pumpkins on porches, KOHC is looking ahead to 2027 and opportunities to impact oral health in Kentucky through our coalition’s policy agenda. Each year, through our quarterly meetings, KOHC members and stakeholders discuss what’s happening on-the-ground in communities, national trends, and needed changes to improve oral health across the Commonwealth. In December, members come together to vote on the policy items that will be prioritized during the legislative session [...]

Submit your comments by Oct 6th The Head Start program began in 1965 as a way to combat the growing number of families with young children living in poverty. It was created to be a half-day preschool program for children between the ages of 3-5 to help them be prepared for kindergarten. By 1977, the program had reserved slots for children with disabilities and a bilingual and bicultural component, and in 1995, Early [...]

KOHC is pleased to announce a pilot program for dental and dental hygiene students who are dedicated to oral health advocacy within their own communities: the KOHC Fellows. The KOHC Fellows Project is a pilot project of KOHC in partnership with dental schools and dental hygiene programs in Kentucky to develop leadership and engagement to advance oral health.  Students awarded a KOHC Fellowship will select and complete a focused project that targets a specific [...]

Guest blog by Dr. Jill Keaton, Dean, University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine  What does a white coat mean to a child growing up in rural Kentucky?  A white coat can mean a dentist who understands where home is. It can mean care closer to home. Most importantly, it can mean a future where a child grows up knowing that going to the dentist is simply part of staying healthy, [...]

By Karena Cash, Data and Research Director, Kentucky Youth Advocates KOHC’s June Quarterly Meeting on June 12, 2026 included a presentation by Karena Cash on Data Trends Related to Oral Health and Child Well-Being. The full recording can be found on the KYA Youtube Channel Oral Health Playlist, and slides from the meeting are available on our website here. Having a healthy smile is crucial to a child’s ability to learn and [...]

Guest blog by Jennifer Harrison, MPH, RDH I have been on the steering committee of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) since graduating from dental hygiene school in 2013.  My clinical career has been in federally qualified health centers serving the most underserved of our community.  Lack of access to care and other policy barriers inspired me to earn my MPH from Western Kentucky University and I have since been [...]

June marks not only the start of summer but also National Oral Health Month! From sleeping in on lazy mornings to busy days on vacation, at camp, or playing sports, maintaining consistent oral hygiene can become a challenge. But keeping your mouth healthy doesn’t have to interrupt the fun. Follow these tips to enjoy a summer of healthy smiles. Keep Kids’ Smiles Healthy on Summer Break Summer break can throw off school-time [...]

As we enjoy warmer days in the Commonwealth, Kentucky’s legislature wrapped up another state budget session on April 15th. Among the nearly 1300 bills filed in Frankfort this year, there were several with components that focused on oral health, underscoring recent trends among Kentucky leaders to place emphasis on the importance of oral health.   Bills Impacting Oral Health and What Comes Next   House Bill 2  HB2 is an expansive bill addressing Medicaid benefits in Kentucky passed, despite a veto from Governor Beshear, and [...]

KOHC members and advocates met virtually on Friday, March 27th for the KOHC March Quarterly Meeting to discuss important updates toward our goals of improving oral health education and access to care throughout the state.  The meeting began with updates about the University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine from Dr. Jill Keaton, Professor and Dean. Noting data cited in KOHC’s 2023 Landscape Assessment that fewer than half of Kentucky children on Medicaid or KCHIP received dental visits, Dr. Keaton shared information about their 2026 research project underway to assess the [...]