BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Arcora board members celebrate Black History Month. 

Just as Black history is U.S. history, oral health is overall health. This Black History Month, our Board of Trustees Chair Andrew Lofton and Board Member Kimberly Wilson reflect on their involvement with Arcora and the importance of oral health for Black people.

Read the full blog on our website.

ORAL HEALTH ADVOCACY

How Washington state supports a cavity-free childhood.

February is Children’s Dental Health Month! Through access to care programs and prevention measures, the Arcora team—in collaboration with partners and policymakers—leads our work with equity to ensure all Washington kiddos can reach their full health potential. 

In a two-part blog, Heather Gallagher, the Access to Baby and Child Dentistry (ABCD) managing director, celebrates the people and policies who make ABCD a success. She highlights the vital role of ABCD coordinators and how Washington state can do more to invest in cavity-free futures for all community members. 

Celebrate children's oral health by exploring Heather's blog series.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Oral health pilot program launches for Spokane’s Marshallese community members. 

CHAS Health and Smile Spokane has launched a pilot program to support Marshallese community members during oral health appointments. A survey of 100 Marshallese Spokane community members—which address their beliefs, attitudes, cultural norms, and knowledge about oral health and its connection to broader whole-body health—found transportation and language as significant barriers to care. This survey was conducted in spring 2022 as a partnership between CHAS community health workers (CHWs) and Karynn Abram, EWU dental hygiene student. 

Through their robust CHW program—and the flexibility of Arcora’s local impact network (LIN) funding—CHAS aims to reduce these barriers by supporting Marshallese patients with oral health interpreters at their Spokane oral health clinics. This pilot program is just one way the LIN model creates an integrated collaborative approach to reduce disparities for underserved populations.

Stay up to date with Smile Spokane by subscribing to their Word of Mouth newsletter.  

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Engaging oral health advocates through our annual children’s dental health Tweetchat.

Yesterday, organizations and individuals from around the U.S. engaged in a lively Tweetchat in recognition of Children’s Dental Health Month. Weren't able to join us live? It's not too late to add to the conversation; find all questions—and add your responses—on Arcora's Twitter account.

Thank you to our co-hosts: Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), Children's Health Fund CEO Dr. Arturo Brito, Delta Dental Foundation, Delta Dental Institute, National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC), and Oral Health Watch.

Keep the momentum going! There are only a few days left of Children’s Dental Health Month, but baby teeth matter every month of the year. Visit our Education Materials hub for free brochures, videos, and classroom curriculums to help your organization support children’s oral health.