Oral Health Forum History
OHF was born through the merging of two pilot projects: The Chicago Oral Health Network and the Chicago Oral Health Providers’ Project. The Chicago Oral Health Network worked to build a Chicago-based coalition of stakeholders to combine and share resources, and follow the public health model of assessment, policy development, and assurance. The Provider’s Project aimed to develop a model of sharing best practices and communication amongs the dental directors of FQHCs in the Chicago area, which had not been previously accomplished.
In July 2008, both projects were merged to create one larger, more efficient and coordinated approach – as a program of Heartland Alliance Health (HAH) – to improve oral health for all. Being housed in HAH was a natural fit with their mission to improve the health of people who lack access to health care by providing culturally competent, multidisciplinary services that prevent illness and improve physical, mental, and social well-being, and by advocating for human rights, including the right to health care. HAH’s continuum of primary care, oral health care, and behavioral health care services, allows OHF an additional opportunity to overcome the divide in segregated health services.
Strategies
- Convene a coalition of community organizations, clinics, educators, policymakers, corporations and other stakeholders to work together to improve oral health access in Chicago.
- Collect, compile, analyze and share regional and state data.
- Develop innovative models of care through demonstration and pilot projects to meet local needs.
- Target the whole school community: children, parents/guardians, families, community leaders, teachers and school personnel to innovate and solve problems.
- Communicate, disseminate, and educate partners and consumers on oral health issues.
- Advocate on city, county, and state level by mobilizing community partners and consumers to identify and solve oral health access concerns.
