Abstract

In response to the death of a young child, efforts by many partners have enabled Maryland to institute oral health reforms that ensure that low-income children remain visible and have continued access to dental services. This paper shows how proponents of oral health in Maryland used issues that were already on the oral health policy agenda to break the cycle of nonaction and become a role model for other states. Deriving from the knowledge and advice of an advisory committee, Maryland administrators and state and federal legislators, with the support of many community partners, took appropriate action to elevate the oral health agenda. Maryland continues to address oral health issues, ensuring that the policy agenda is inclusive of all its citizens.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Thuku NM, Carulli K, Costello S, Goodman HS

Institution

Office of Oral Health, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, USA. nthuku@dhmh.state.md.us

Source

Journal of public health dentistry 72 Suppl 1: 2012 pg S7-13

MeSH

Advisory Committees
Child
Community Networks
Dental Care
Guidelines as Topic
Health Care Reform
Health Policy
Health Priorities
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Maryland
Medicaid
Oral Health
Policy Making
Poverty
United States
Vulnerable Populations

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22433110