Last week marked the launch of the 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard by Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA). KYA has been releasing the Kentucky KIDS COUNT report to measure child well-being in Kentucky annually for 35 years. The Data Dashboard allows users to see how data for regions and neighboring counties has improved, worsened, or stayed the same over time with interactive heat maps. Individual county profiles are also available for viewing and downloading. KOHC members and advocates can help connect the dots among data, healthy communities, and improved oral health for all Kentuckians by sharing [...]

Following celebrations on Halloween, Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) joined oral health advocates nationwide in recognizing National Brush Day on November 1st. This is a great time to remind kids and families about the importance of good oral hygiene and taking care of their teeth. Beyond at-home oral health practices, Kentucky continues to see a need to prioritize preventive measures that target chronic oral health conditions, such as cavities.   Despite data that shows Kentucky’s youngest kids are experiencing decay rates [...]

On July 4th, 2025, H.R. 1 was signed into law, with a goal to reduce federal healthcare spending. Many of the provisions of this bill will result in states and Medicaid recipients bearing more of the expense as this law rolls out over the next ten years. Many Kentuckians already face challenges accessing routine dental care because they lack dental insurance coverage or have no dentists in their area. Delays in treatment contribute to unnecessary [...]

Written by KOHC Intern, Amanda Abner. Amanda works at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry as a registered dental hygienist and assistant professor for the Division of Periodontology. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health through the University of Kentucky. As we continue to celebrate October as National Dental Hygiene Month, we’re highlighting an important program that provides oral health care in Kentucky to some of our most underserved populations - Remote Area [...]

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which celebrates the efforts of dental hygienists in advancing oral health. Dental hygienists are experts at assessing patient needs, communicating health topics, collaborating with other health professionals, and motivating individuals to practice optimal oral hygiene. This combination of knowledge, experience, and soft skills transfers perfectly to advocating for oral health on a broader scale.  Elected officials and decision-makers rely on professionals in the field to share their expertise and [...]

This year’s KOHC September Quarterly meeting convened virtually on Friday, September 12th, and featured a robust agenda of presentations and discussions focused on methods and strategies to improve the oral health of all Kentuckians.  Alicia Whatley, Senior Policy and Advocacy Director for Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA) and Project Lead for KOHC, kicked off the meeting and invited Dr. Jerry Caudill, national Vice President of Dental Services and Kentucky State Dental Director for Avesis to frame [...]

Oral health professionals and advocates in Kentucky are facing plenty of challenges. Published this year, the University of Kentucky Early Learners Survey showed that more than 1/3 of Kentucky children ages 2 – 5 have evidence of dental decay compared to the national average of 23%, while changes to Medicaid make funding solutions more difficult.   But members of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition connect and strategize to meet these challenges head on with solutions-based education [...]

Tammy Riley, Public Health Director II, Pike County Health Department  The BearCare Public Health Dental Clinic, informally called the BearCare Clinic, located at the Pike County Health Department, is a project born out of a deep understanding of the persistent and unmet oral health needs of children in our community. As a public health initiative grounded in compassion and collaboration, the clinic was established to bridge the gap for the uninsured, underinsured, and Medicaid-enrolled youth [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is excited to partner with the American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH) for a special session on veteran oral health following our September coalition meeting. Learn more about AIDPH’s work and this exciting opportunity from guest author Annaliese Cothron, DHSc, MS, CPH.   AIDPH believes veterans cannot maintain good health without good oral health. Unfortunately, 76% of veterans who walk into a medical appointment in the VA may walk out with [...]

Along with barbecues and fireworks, the 4th of July also brought a new federal budget signed into law. Although the reconciliation package saw several versions before final passage, many of the changes we highlighted earlier this Summer were finalized under the new law.    Among the largest cuts in the program's history are those to the Medicaid program. The final version of the bill has broad implications over the next ten years, with changes including:   Work [...]