People, agencies, and funders collectively inspired to make a change.
Kent County Oral Health Coalition (KCOHC)
Why We Exist
The Kent County Oral Health Coalition exists to advocate for improved access to high quality dental services and identify community needs. We work to increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of oral health to overall health. We support the efforts of our partners and those in our community who are passionate about oral health.
Who Is Involved
The coalition is a growing body of people, agencies, and funders—collectively inspired to make a change. It was convened by First Steps, a Kent County nonprofit organization working to strengthen and coordinate services that improve the health and school readiness of young children in Kent County. In addition to numerous other local professionals, dental health and primary care clinicians, managed care organizations, hospitals, nonprofits and businesses, the list of community partners continues to grow.
KCOHC’s mission is to improve the oral health of Kent County citizens.
KCOHC’s vision is simple – healthy teeth in every mouth.
KCOHC’s goals:
- Increase access to oral healthcare among underserved and hard to reach populations in Kent County.
- Increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of oral health to overall health.
KCOHC in Action
- Enhancing community connections and community representation through the KCOHC Mini-Grant Program
- Advocating for an improved adult dental benefit in Michigan’s Medicaid coverage
- Surveying the community oral health landscape and compiling findings and data related to oral health in the Kent County Oral Health Exam
- Advancing health equity by educating the community on oral health as a social justice issue
- Addressing the escalating obstacle of access to hospital and ambulatory care centers for needed pediatric dental care.
- Promotion of Healthy Kids Dental Benefits and advocacy for continued coverage for youth in Michigan
Kent County Oral Health Coalition (KCOHC) Partners
We work with a wide variety of community partners to support KCOHC. A special thank you to the following organizations for the opportunity to collaborate and share resources:
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
AYA Youth Collective
Baxter Community Center
Bethany Christian Services
Catherine’s Health Center
Cherry Health
Dégagé Ministries
Delta Dental Foundation
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
Exalta Health
Family Futures
First Steps Kent
GRAAHI
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Great Start Collaborative
GVSU Family Health Center
Hands Connected
Head Start for Kent County
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Pediatric Clinic
Health Net of West Michigan
Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
Kent County Health Department
Kent District Library
Kent Intermediate School District
Kent School Services Network
Mel Trotter Ministries
Mercy Health
Meridian Health Plan
University of Michigan Health- West
Michigan Oral Health Coalition
Molina Health Plan
My Community Dental Centers
Priority Health
Ranir
Refugee Education Center
Spectrum Health
Treetops Collective
United Methodist Community House
West Michigan Asian American Association
West Michigan District Dental Society
KCOHC Outcomes
distributed in mini grants to local organizations to implement oral health programming.
individuals in Kent County were served through mini grant programming.
worth of dental services donated during the three KCOHC sponsored free dental days at Exalta Health.
Healthy Kids Dental Promotion
The Healthy Kids Dental social media kit was designed to help community organizations and busy health professionals improve oral health access by educating about, and advocating for Healthy Kids Dental. Each social media post includes an image and suggested message.
KCOHC Research
With the partnership of the Kent County Health Department and financial support from the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, formerly the DentaQuest Foundation, the coalition conducted an examination of the current state of oral health in Kent County, Michigan.