Coalition Awards Grants to Support Work on Access to Oral Health Care

Online PR News – 21-February-2013 –The Michigan Oral Health Coalition has announced the recipients of its 2013 Community Mini-Grant Program to inspire communities to create networks of innovation, advocacy and leadership. Grantees are located in Bay City, Clare, Marquette, Grand Rapids, and Southfield. These community networks will align data and resources, and create effective, replicable approaches to prevent and manage oral disease.

“Oral health is an essential component of comprehensive health care,” said Karlene Ketola, Executive Director of the Michigan Oral Health Coalition. “We are excited to see what develops as we engage these five Michigan communities to embrace the challenge and opportunity of addressing oral health disparities in their local areas.”

The 2013 Grantees include: Bay County Health Department (Bay City); Central Michigan District Health Department (Clare); Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan (Marquette); First Steps Kent (Grand Rapids); and JVS Tri-County Dental (Southfield).

Each grantee will receive $1,500 to support coalition building strategies, along with access to a broad base of knowledge and expertise through multiple state and national partners, and in-depth technical assistance related to facilitative leadership, strategic planning and program development.

Support for this grant program is provided by the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, through the Oral Health 2014 Initiative of the DentaQuest Foundation. Winners were selected based on each organization’s potential for program development; broad community involvement including volunteer support; needs of community, and a thorough readiness assessment.

Michigan Oral Health Coalition is a non-profit whose mission is to improve oral health in Michigan by focusing on prevention, health promotion, oral health data, access, and the link between oral health and overall health. With more than 125 members, the Coalition is comprised of primary care clinicians, oral health clinicians, dental benefit providers, advocacy and provider organizations, state and local government officials, and consumers working together to improve oral health in Michigan. For more information, visit www.mohc.org.