Hawai‘i Coalition for Oral Health.
Statewide Oral Health Strategic Planning Process Officially Begins
Oral health is back on the map!
With support from a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and input from a broad range of community partners, the Department of Health and the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute are taking bold steps to make oral health a priority in our state.
We are updating a statewide oral health strategic plan with solutions to address tough challenges. It will take tenacity to break through barriers and overcome obstacles, but we’re ready to rise to the challenge. Through our collaborative efforts, we envision everyone in Hawai‘i having a healthy smile that they deserve.
To sign up for the coalition or for more information please email nicole@hiphi.org
Background and Future Direction
An oral health strategic plan is long overdue. The last state oral health strategic plan was completed in 2003 and the Hawaiian Islands Oral Health Task Force was instrumental in supporting oral health efforts in our state. The task force is moving forward to update the plan and be rebranded as the Hawai‘i Coalition for Oral Health (HICOH) to convey our broadly defined scope and our anticipated influence in the community.
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.
