WORKING TOGETHER TO DIRECT CHANGE
About usThe mission of the Hawai’i Oral Health Coalition is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of all Hawai’i residents by increasing access and equity in oral health care through collaborative partnerships, advocacy, and education. The HOHC was established in the summer of 2019 but follows in the footsteps of decades of collaboration within the oral health community. The HOHC is community owned and led with fiscal sponsorship from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and has membership representation from all islands and diverse sectors. We are brought together with common values. |
Our Values
Equity
Community
Pono
Integrity
Equity–We take action to reduce oral health disparities statewide and advocate for person- centered health care through policy and system changes. | community–We include all voices, promoting authenticity and trust, to ensure diversity and foster a sense of belonging, involvement, and ownership. | Pono–We advocate for community and government action to uphold the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable people in our state, to receive appropriate and respectful oral health care. | integrity–We create and maintain a safe environment for openly sharing ideas, agendas, and concerns, and employ best practices and evidence based decision-making. |
WHAT WE DOWe believe that by working together, we are able to achieve far greater than we would be able to bring about independently. Through a coalition we are able to exchange mutually beneficial resources and direct change at multiple levels. Our committees include Workforce, Access and Prevention, Surveillance and Data, Advocacy, HOHC-Maui, HOHC-Kaua’i, HOHC-Hawai’i Island. The HOHC continues to champion for the reinstatement of Adult Medicaid Dental Benefits. The Coalition also continues to work towards improving Keiki dental benefit utilization as our collaborative initiative across all committees. |
HOHC ON OUR NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
We acknowledge the unique challenges neighbor islands face in improving oral health care. The HOHC-Maui, HOHC-Kaua'i, and HOHC- Hawai'i Island are the voices for their communities. Being part of the HOHC allows members to identify and address the specific needs of their community while also being aligned and integrated to statewide efforts. |
Join the Hawaii Oral Health CoalitionBecome A MemberCOALITION STRUCTURE
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE Advocates for systems and policy change to address the unique oral health needs of all Hawaiʻi residents, with emphasis on vulnerable populations facing income and access barriers to care. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Evaluates and addresses the oral health workforce capacity and functions to improve access to care for Hawaiʻi residents, with the focus on the underserved and vulnerable populations. DATA & SURVEILLANCE COMMITTEE Compiles statistical and anecdotal information related to oral health access and equity issues, with attention to specific programs addressing oral health throughout the State of Hawaiʻi. The committee also collects data to better understand general oral health needs and inequity among vulnerable populations across the state. PREVENTION & ACCESS COMMITTEE Works to improve preventative care, access to oral health services, and address oral health disparities among Hawaii's underserved and vulnerable populations. |
