Led by Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) and Shaping our Appalachian Region (SOAR), the Southeastern Kentucky Oral Health Coalition was formed in August 2020 in partnership with the statewide Kentucky Oral Health Coalition, which is a project of Kentucky Youth Advocates. The coalition seeks to convene a diverse group of stakeholders to improve oral health literacy, identify solutions to address access to care, and strategize around policy initiatives specific to the population health care needs [...]

In February, Delta Dental Plans Association released new findings from its Original Tooth Fairy Poll® that show the Tooth Fairy's average cash gift reached its highest point in the 23-year history for a total of $4.70 per tooth. In addition to the poll, Delta Dental collaborated with the Tooth Fairy creating resources guaranteed to make a child’s Tooth Fairy experience extra special. While there is little doubt that receiving money from the Tooth Fairy can [...]

LOUISVILLE, KY – During Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are reminded that keeping kids safe is an adult responsibility. In partnership with Delta Dental of Kentucky, the Kosair Charities Face It Movement is launching a new online toolkit for health and oral health professionals with resources and information on recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse and neglect in their communities. “Delta Dental of Kentucky is proud to partner with the Kosair Charities’ Face It Movement to equip the dental community, [...]

During a first-of-its-kind legislative session in 2021, the Governor and the Kentucky General Assembly were tasked with crafting a continuation budget, addressing the systemic injustices that impact our children and families of color, advancing policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and other policy priorities that would be good for the communities they represent and the Commonwealth. After the final gavel last week, KOHC is reflecting on the policy and budget priorities that were successful during the [...]

Roller coasters are great fun! Unexpected twists and turns along with the anticipation during the ascent ending with a sudden drop are all part of the excitement. School age children and teens have been on a figurative roller coaster for the past year. Students have coped with and adjusted to school cancelations, virtual instruction, hybrid instruction, and traditional classroom instruction. This “back to school” roller coaster has been challenging! Instead of excitement, many families could [...]

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an important time to remember everyone has a role in preventing child abuse and neglect. In Kentucky, every adult is a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect. Oral health professionals are in a unique position to recognize and report signs of abuse and neglect during their dental exams and procedures as it is estimated over 50% of injuries from child abuse occur on the head and neck. Knowing [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members and oral health stakeholders from across the state convened virtually for the first KOHC quarterly meeting of 2021 on Friday, March 26. We kicked off the meeting with a message from our new steering committee chair, Dr. Stephanie Poynter. Mahak Kalra, Chief Policy Officer at Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), presented updates on legislative and budget policies of interest to KOHC members as the 2021 legislative session wraps up. She highlighted budget [...]

During Nutrition Month in March, national and state advocacy groups are asking for increased supports and efforts around feeding programs. As Kentucky continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know child feeding programs are essential for kids and families as more than 20% of Kentucky households with children reported sometimes or often not having enough food to eat at the end of 2020, a number that has been increasing since October.  Temporary changes to food assistance programs during the pandemic have helped increase access to food for [...]

We know there is a strong connection between good oral health and overall health, and KOHC has continued to advocate for a more integrated approach to medical and dental care. Integrating dental and medical care for children can improve health outcomes because tooth decay has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other adverse medical conditions. A recent study examining well-child visits and preventative dental visits showed that Medicaid-enrolled children who received an oral examination [...]

  March is National Nutrition Month and KOHC is excited to celebrate alongside our members, advocates, and the community. Research shows that food and beverage choices are important factors for healthy growth and development, and maintaining good oral health. KOHC promotes optimal oral health throughout the lifetime, but we know that health habits learned early on can lead to healthy choices in adulthood. One of KOHC’s 2020 legislative priorities related to nutrition – health standards in [...]