G-1901-14736

This investment supports Virginia Commonwealth University to act as a lead convener of the Petersburg Wellness Consortium as part of the Grassroots Engagement Strategy. PWC/VCU’s 2019 work focuses on micro-grantee capacity building; establishing sustainability through the PWC Oral Health Workgroup; developing a sustainability plan with the other Virginia grassroots grantees; community health worker oral health training; child-parent education research; and expanding the network of community partners engaged in oral health education and advocacy. A key goal of their work is to advocate for a comprehensive adult dental benefit in Medicaid, as an active partner of the Virginia Oral Health Coalition. $70,800 will support staff time, local travel, meeting expenses, and mini-grants to eight community partners. This proposal aligns with the Oral Health 2020 Goal 6 of improving the public perception of the value of oral health to overall health and the target that oral health is increasingly included in health dialogue and public policy.