Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Oral Health Ohio, a coalition of statewide partners who educate and advocate to improve the state’s oral and overall health, recently released the 2023-27 State Oral Health Plan, a roadmap for Ohio to elevate oral health to the same priority as overall health.
Oral Health Ohio contracted with the Health Policy Institute of Ohio to facilitate and create the 2023-27 State Plan, which is designed to guide actions taken by policymakers, advocates, educators, providers, and funders. The vision of the state plan is that all Ohioans will have optimal oral health during every stage of their life.
The plan highlights a number of obstacles to good oral health, including community conditions such as poverty, food security, toxic stress, and discrimination, as well as health behaviors and access to care and affordability.
The plan was developed with input from approximately 200 Ohioans from across the state through healthcare professional focus groups (52 participants from a variety of dental and medical specialties and locations across the state), consumer focus groups (114 community members who met in Columbus, Athens, Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati, OH) and a multi-sector advisory committee. This included several family physician members of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians along with its Executive Vice President Kate Mahler, CAE.
Oral Health Ohio received funding from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health to support the development of the 2023-27 State Oral Health Plan.