Collaborative partnerships, advocacy, education.
The mission of the Hawaiʻi Oral Health Coalition (HOHC) is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of all Hawaiʻi residents by increasing access and equity in oral health care through collaborative partnerships, advocacy, and education.
The HOHC was established in the summer of 2019 but follows in the footsteps of decades of collaboration within the oral health community. The HOHC is community-owned and led with fiscal sponsorship from the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and has membership representation from all islands and represents diverse sectors. We are brought together with common values.
To learn more visit: www.hawaiioralhealthcoalition.org
Oral Health Strategic Planning Community Sessions.
Hawai‘i Department of Health contracted with our team at Hawai‘i Public Health Institute to facilitate a series of town hall meetings to gather input from stakeholders on each island. Altogether, eight town hall meetings were held between November and December of 2017. Click on a location to the right to read a recap of each.
Interested parties will reconvene for a statewide meeting in May of 2018 to review the results from the various town hall meetings in preparation for the written strategic plan that will be completed by the end of August 2018.
ORAL HEALTH RESOURCES
ORAL HEALTH CRISIS IN HAWAI‘I.
26%
OF KIDS UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE HAD A PREVENTIVE DENTAL VISIT THROUGH MEDICAID
3,000
RESIDENTS VISITED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR DENTAL PROBLEMS
47%
OF ADULTS AGE 45-64 HAVE LOST AT LEAST ONE TOOTH BECAUSE OF TOOTH DECAY OR GUM DISEASE
38%
OF THIRD GRADERS HAVE A SEALANT ON THEIR PERMANENT MOLARS
2019 Hawaii Legislative Recap
During the 2019 Hawaii Legislative session, seven bills were introduced pertaining to oral health. Although bills reinstating adult Medicaid dental benefits, regulating dental assistants, and fluoridating public water failed, the oral health community made their voice heard! Great strides were made in telehealth and reducing children’s consumption of sugary beverages with the passing of SB1246 and SB549.
