The Weekly Wednesday Update is our newsletter which we email every Wednesday with oral health, health and policy updates from around the state and nationally.

To view past issues click here.

 

September 18, 2024
Volume 15, Issue 34

 

Poster Project Submission Deadline Coming Up

We are still accepting proposals for poster presentations to be exhibited during the Conference on Oral Health on Friday, November 8.

Any poster presentation that is of interest to students, faculty, practitioners, and other partners in oral and public health is appropriate for Conference Planning Committee review. Applications are open to anyone in the dental, medical, or public health fields who would like to present information on their oral health, medical dental integration project, or other project or research.

Categories for poster presentations:

• Basic science and/or clinical research
• Clinical applications, techniques or tips
• Laboratory applications, techniques or tips
• Community oral health programs or grant projects
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Training and education

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Monday, September 30, 2024
Decisions will be announced on Monday, October 7, 2024

For more information, click here.

 

 

Kansas on National Webinar Next Week

Since 2022, the Kansas Legislature has invested in establishing Medicaid dental benefits for adults. As Oral Health Kansas and our partners have developed the advocacy strategies to strengthen the adult dental benefit,  We have been fortunate to have the support of CareQuest Institute for Oral Health’s Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit Coverage Checker. The Coverage Checker helps us examine the dental benefit packages in other states’ Medicaid programs and set goals for coverage options.

In a webinar next week hosted by CareQuest Institutes Oral Health Kansas and Kansas Department of Health and Environment will share our stories of how the Coverage Checker has helped Kansas improve our Medicaid adult dental benefit package.

Learn more about the September 24 webinar “Stronger Together: Advocates, Administrators, and Providers Working to Improve Medicaid Adult Dental Benefits” and register to participate at this link.

 

 

Make a Voting Plan

It’s not hard to tell that it’s election season. Not only will voters go to the polls this fall to choose the next President, but also members of the U.S. Congress, Kansas Senate, Kansas House of Representatives, County Commissions, and more. Now is the time to make your plan to vote.

What is a voting plan?
It’s a simple three step process:

1. Check your voter registration status at KSVotes.org.
2. Decide how you will vote - by mail, in-person in advance, or on election day. You can
3. Vote!

Kansas Voting Deadlines:

Tuesday, October 15: Deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information (if you moved) in order to vote in the 2024 general election.

Wednesday, October 16: Advance voting begins. Mail ballots will be sent to voters who requested them, and in-person advance voting begins.

Tuesday, October 29: Last day to request a mail ballot.

Monday, November 4: In-person advance voting ends at 12 pm.

Tuesday, November 5: Election Day! The polls will be open from 7 am to 7 pm.

Friday, November 8: Deadline for election offices to receive mail ballots, which must be postmarked by election day 8.

Next week we will share talking points you can use to bring up oral health policy issues when you talk with candidates. Let us know if you have any election season questions at info@oralhealthkansas.org.

 

 

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 begins National Hispanic Heritage Month until October 15. During the 30 days, we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, according to the U.S. Library of Congress. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month here.

Hispanic communities represent now nearly 19% of the total US population. According to a white paper “Addressing the Oral Health Needs of Hispanics in the U.S.” by the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) and CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, factors such as culture, language, immigration policies, anti-immigrant sentiments, and racism, in addition to other social determinants of health, influence the Hispanic population's inability to access oral health care. Data from the white paper show that disparities in oral health that affect the most vulnerable populations in the US particularly impact Hispanic communities. This holds true in Kansas. A 2020 dental insurance study published by the Kansas Health Institute found that working age Hispanic Kansans are twice as likely to lack dental insurance as working age White or Black Kansans.

On Thursday, September 19 beginning at 6:00pm CST, join CareQuest Institute, in partnership with the Hispanic Dental Association, for a webinar that will explore that concept and how to advance oral health equity through community empowerment. Click here to register

 

 

Upcoming Events

• Course: An Introduction to Value-Based Care in Oral Health: Moving from Volume to Value, 1 CE. Click here for the course information.
• Self paced courses: Providing Oral Health Care to Autistic Individuals and Caring for Individuals with Disabilities: Practical Considerations for Dental Providers..
• Webinar: Advancing Hispanic Oral Health Care, September 19, 6 - 7p.m. CST. Register here.
• Community Care Network of Kansas annual conference, October 9 - 11 in Wichita. Learn more here.
• 2024 Conference on Oral Health will be Friday, November 8 at the Kansas State Olathe Campus, 22201 W Innovation Dr., Olathe, KS.

If you would like to add your event to this list, email info@oralhealthkansas.org.

 

 

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Congratulations to Qiana Thomason, President and CEO for Health Forward Foundation, who recently was awarded with the Athena Leadership Award from Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. This award is given to those who excel in their fields, communities, and support women’s leadership. What an amazing recognition!
Health Forward Foundation is one of Oral Health Kansas funders who have shown their support for many years and express how important the oral health of Kansans is for our communities.

 

 

Sugary Drink Display

We have Adult and Children's Sugary Drink Display's available for reservations. These displays are eye catching at exhibits, schools, library, dental offices, clinics and just about anywhere you see them! We only have a limited amount so please sign up soon if you're interested in reserving one. Click here to learn more about sugary drink display reservations!