Rev Your Bev Q&A – Promoting Water in Our Communities

On May 9, Virginia schools, healthcare providers, community centers, and more will host events as part of the annual Rev Your Bev Day. Since 2013, Rev Your Bev has hosted more than 1,800 events across the commonwealth to get Virginia’s children drinking water over sugar sweetened beverages. As health advocates we know the importance of…

Read More

Guest Blog: VCU Dental Resident Addresses Health Needs for Patients with Special Health Care Needs

Cole Staines contributed the guest blog below, he is a Pediatric Dental Resident at Virginia Commonwealth University.   As a pediatric dental resident at VCU, I recently took part in the Virginia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (VA-LEND) program that trains future leaders in the field of childhood neurodevelopment. The training included interactive seminars, clinical and community-based…

Read More

2018 Virginia Oral Health Summit Speaker Q&A Series Dr. Jennifer Lee

Ahead of the 2018 Virginia Oral Health Summit on November 8, we’ll be hearing from some of our speakers about their efforts to improve health. I recently spoke with Dr. Jennifer Lee, Agency Director for Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, to learn more about the lead up to Medicaid expansion and the work she and her…

Read More

Virginia Oral Health Coalition Receives Community Award

On October 18 we were honored to receive the Williamsburg Health Foundation Annual Award for our collaborative work with partners in Williamsburg and across the state to improve health outcomes. The award, given each year to an organization that has improved the lives of Williamsburg residents, recognized the incredible efforts made by VaOHC staff and community partners.…

Read More

2018 Virginia Oral Health Summit Speaker Q&A Series Dr. Matt Allen

Ahead of the 2018 Virginia Oral Health Summit on November 8, we’ll be hearing from some of our speakers about their work to improve health. I recently spoke with featured speaker Dr. Matt Allen, a dentist and motivational interviewing expert, to learn more about the role of motivational interviewing in dentistry and health care. Dr. Allen has…

Read More

Event Summary – Community Tool Box Training: Collaboration & Leadership to Improve Oral Health

Health advocates from around the Commonwealth joined the Coalition team this summer for a two-day training in Richmond. The event, “Collaboration & Leadership to Improve Oral Health,” was led by an expert from the University of Kansas Community Tool Box program, who has worked with other state and local oral health coalitions around the country to give…

Read More

Integrating Oral Health in the Community with Home Visitor Trainings

Home visitors are an integral part of Virginia’s health care system; they are on the front lines of care and education, reaching rural or at-risk populations who may otherwise fall through the cracks. As members of the communities they serve, home visitors build trust with patients and families and create long-lasting, ongoing relationships with community…

Read More

Partner Profile: How the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations is Creating an Equal Virginia for All

Challenges facing the Latino community have been all over the news recently. To understand the efforts happening here in Virginia to ensure all communities have opportunities to succeed I sat down with Beatriz Amberman, chair of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO) and member of the Virginia Oral Health Coalition legislative committee, to learn…

Read More