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About us
A group inspired by the Ohio Department of Health Director’s Task Force on Oral Health and Access to Dental Care, the Children’s Oral Health Action Team (COHAT) is a team of 20-plus member organizations who are well versed in children’s oral health policy or have a key stake in improving children’s oral health in Ohio.More than the usual dental voices have been brought to the table. To date, members include providers (pediatricians, school nurses, school-based health centers and children’s hospitals); advocates; and representatives from the early childhood and school-age community and the children’s disability community, as well as geographic diversity (Appalachia, Northwest Ohio, Southwest Ohio, Central Ohio, Northeast Ohio).
The Children’s Oral Health Action Team (COHAT) advocates and educates to improve child oral health in Ohio. We will do this by convening committed partners, identifying a shared agenda and mobilizing to achieve our goals.
COHAT has structured itself into a full steering committee, an executive committee and three work teams that convene to direct the work of the group within three goal areas.
Goal one:
Increase the number of primary care providers who are actively involved in improving the oral health of their patients by SFY 2014.
Assess the oral health status of children and their families.
Refer children and families to appropriate oral health professionals.
Provide appropriate preventive services (e.g. fluoride varnish)
Goal two:
Insert an oral health agenda as an ongoing learning support into Department of Education actions by SFY 2011, beginning with the child development policies and initial strategic plan of the proposed Center for Early Childhood Development and the Coordinated School Health Grant.
Goal three:
Advocate for the implementation of Medicaid system changes designed to increase the capacity of the system to improve children’s oral health by SFY 2013.