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.

 

March 18, 2026
Volume 17, Issue 11

 

 

Oral Health Kansas is Searching for the Next Executive Director

Have you heard the news? Tanya Dorf Brunner, Executive Director, has announced she will be stepping down from her role to serve as Executive Director of the American Network of Oral Health Coalitions (ANOHC), a national organization that supports and strengthens state oral health coalitions across the country. We’re excited for Tanya’s new adventure!

Oral Health Kansas is now searching for the next Executive Director. The job is full time and offers flexible remote work within Kansas, with optional Topeka office use and occasional in-person meetings, events, and legislative engagement.

Those interested in applying can access the full job description and requirements, as well as apply here. If you have any questions about the position, please call HR Partners at (785) 233-7860.

 

 

My Dental Care Passport Campaign

In April 2025, Pathways to Oral Health launched an ad campaign reaching thousands of individuals and dental professionals across the state. We shared information about the My Dental Care Passport and how dental offices and individuals with a disability can use it and why they SHOULD use it. From April 2025 through February 2026, the campaign has shown us:

• 32,437 visits to the Pathways to Oral Health Project website
• 24,925 of those visits were first time visitors
• People who visited took part in 97,805 actions, averaging about 3 activities on the website per visit
• Our targeted online ads were seen over 5 million times and received nearly 5,000 clicks, helping us reach more people across a wider range of websites

This is amazing! We are inspired that so many people are visiting the Pathways website and finding information that they need. If you are someone who has used the My Dental Care Passport, we would love to hear your story. Email us at info@oralhealthkansas.org. Also, if you have seen one of our ads we’d love to hear your thoughts. Email us at info@oralhealthkansas.org

 

 

OHK Visits with Special Olympics Families

Education Coordinator, Abby Richwine, attended the Special Olympics Youth State Basketball- Special Smiles event in Emporia last weekend. Special Olympics has a health and fitness component and this event offered dental screenings to the athletes (and their siblings)! They screened almost 30 athletes WOW!

Abby shared several resources at the Oral Health Kansas table. She gave families information to help find a dentist, as well as details about the sugary drink display and adaptive aide information. Fun fact: there were also two service dogs people could play with at the event. What fun!
Special Olympics is a Pathways to Oral Health Project partner. We appreciate their input with the project.

 

 

National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month is celebrated in March and is a great reminder that what we eat and drink plays a big role in our oral health not just our overall health. Nutrition directly impacts the health of our teeth and gums. Diets high in added sugars along with frequent snacking can increase the risk of tooth decay, while nutrient rich foods help protect and strengthen teeth. Foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins like dairy products, leafy greens, and lean proteins support strong enamel and healthy gums.

What we drink matters too. Sugary beverages and acidic drinks can wear down enamel over time, while water, especially optimally fluoridated water, helps rinse away food particles and protect teeth. You can also chew sugar free gum after you eat to help pull food particles off your teeth.

By making smart nutrition choices, you’re not just fueling your body, you’re also protecting your smile for the long term.

 

 

Dental Hygienist Liaison (DHL) Project Update

In 2011 the National Center on Health, working in partnership with the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA), created the Dental Hygienist Liaison (DHL) project. Under the DHL project, one dental hygienist from each state volunteers to help promote oral health for pregnant women and children enrolled in Head Start. In our state of Kansas, we were lucky to have OHK Dental Program Director, Kathy Hunt, as the state DHL and leader of the national DHL project. The National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC), the oral health lead for the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health and Safety (NCHBHS), partners with ASTDD to administer the Dental Hygienist Liaison (DHL) project. OHRC and ASTDD are incredibly proud of what has been accomplished through this initiative and grateful for the dedication of the volunteer DHLs, whose commitment to promoting oral health and preventing oral disease supports not only oral health, but overall health, for pregnant women and children enrolled in Head Start programs.

NCHBHS Funding Status: From 2020 through 2025, NCHBHS was funded by the Office of Head Start (OHS) as part of the Training and Technical Assistance System supporting Head Start programs nationwide. OHS extended funding for NCHBHS through March 31, 2026. Funding for the NCHBHS and, therefore, the DHL project will end on that date.

 Future Funding Opportunity: While current funding is coming to a close, they are eagerly awaiting the next Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from OHS for the new National Center on Head Start Early Learning, Health, and Family Engagement. They remain hopeful that future funding will allow oral health initiatives, including the DHL project, to continue. However, there will be a pause in project activities while future funding is pursued.

The hope is that this pause is temporary—and that the oral health work, including DHL project to support Head Start programs will continue soon. Read more at DHL Project or reach out to Carla Bassett, Dental Hygienist Lead Project Consultant for more information at carla.bassettdhl@gmail.com. 

 

 

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: Fluoride Supplements: Evidence, Guidance, and Safety on March 26 from 6:00pm-7:00pm CST. Register here.
• Dental Clinic Leadership Conference co-hosted by Community Care Network of Kansas and the Health Center Association of Nebraska on April 9 - April 10 in Manhattan. Learn more here.
• Webinar: Prevention First – Better Oral Health for All on April 6 from 7:00pm-8:00pm CST. Register here.
• Save the date! The 2026 Conference on Oral Health will be Friday, November 13 at the KU Edwards Campus.

 

 

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Thank you to Medicaid Projects Manager, MaryAnne Lynch Small, the Pathways to Oral Health project was recently featured as part of Sunflower Health Plan’s ‘Supports for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities’ (IDD) Project ECHO series. The session brought together care providers, care coordinators, case managers and more, committed to improving oral health outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

MaryAnne was delighted to share Pathways information and resources, including the award winning ‘Confidence in Every Smile’ instructional video series and My Dental Care Passport. The Project ECHO education model pairs case-based and didactic learning. This approach led to fruitful discussion focused on practical strategies to better support oral health in the home, in supported living, and in the dental office setting. Participants explored ways caregivers can reinforce daily oral hygiene routines, as well as approaches dental teams can use to create more accessible, supportive environments for patients with IDD.

We are grateful for Sunflower’s partnership and inviting us to be part of the Project ECHO series. Our shared commitment to advancing equitable oral health care helps create meaningful opportunities for learning, collaboration, and improved care for the communities we serve.

 

 

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!