Oral Health 2020 (OH2020) began in 2011 as a national systems-change strategy, which today has evolved into a movement of interconnected networks at the national, state level and community level – for the purpose of reshaping the landscape and dialogue on behalf of optimal oral health for all. The DentaQuest Foundation, the leading US philanthropy focused solely on oral health, supports OH2020.
OH2020 is a multi-year effort to strengthen and unify the networks to achieve the following goals:
- Eradicate dental disease in children
- Incorporate oral health into the primary education system
- Include an adult dental benefit in publicly funded health coverage
- Build a comprehensive national oral health measurement system
- Integrate oral health into person-centered healthcare
- Improve the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health
Earlier this year, Christine Garvey, RDH, and Chair of Oral Health Nevada’s Board of Directors was named Nevada’s representative to OH2020, and chosen for this role in part due to her experience in making connections and understanding the importance of building and weaving relationships for creating systemic change. Over the next year Ms. Garvey is charged with identifying stakeholders, including non-traditional partners, in Nevada to involve in regional activities over the year. This includes identifying a grassroots representative in Nevada, who will work with Ms. Garvey to expand the oral health network in our state and increase knowledge about programmatic and advocacy best practices related to achieving the OH2020 goals.
Leave a Reply