In 2003, interested parties from around the state identified critical issues which warranted a more coordinated effort to considerably improve the oral health status of Kansans. Oral Health Kansas, Inc. was born of this group’s efforts. The organization has been built to a significant coalition of individuals and organizations representing widely diverse backgrounds.

Oral Health Kansas remains dedicated to influencing policy changes that will most effectively improve the oral health status of all Kansas citizens. Key efforts focus on elected and non-elected policy makers at the local, state and federal levels and the constituents who influence them.

Oral Health Kansas is a statewide membership organization. Anyone interested in improving the oral health status of all Kansans is welcome to join.

Historical timeline

2003

• The newly incorporated Oral Health Kansas, Inc. began operating as the state’s oral health coalition. Teresa Schwab helped found the organization and began serving as the first Executive Director.
• OHK helped establish the Bureau of Oral Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The first state Dental Director then was hired.

2004

• First Annual Oral Health Kansas Conference held.

2005

• OHK helped establish a legislative task force to explore access to care for impoverished adults.
• OHK established the Dental Champions Leadership Program. The purpose of the program is to create a broad, skilled statewide network of people committed to improving oral health in the state.

2006

• OHK played a leadership role in securing appropriations and grants to establish the state’s first Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Wichita State University.
• Working with several partners, OHK successfully advocated for dental services to become available to people on the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waivers for developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injury.

2007

• OHK successfully helped advocate for dental services to be extended to people on the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waiver for frail elderly.
• OHK participated in legislative efforts that broadened the Dental Hygienist Extended Care Permit law.
• The Bureau of Oral Health and OHK worked with stakeholders across the state to craft the first Kansas State Oral Health Plan.

2008

• OHK successfully advocated for funding to begin Medicaid dental services for pregnant women.
• OHK began partnerships with the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging to teach Kansans with disabilities, older Kansans and the people who support them about oral health care.
• Oral Health Kansas began a project with the Bureau of Oral Health to contract with dental hygienists across the state to teach oral health skills to the parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
• The Kansas Dental Association and OHK partnered to present an Oral Health Conference.

2009

• The OHK Board voted to no longer solicitmemberships, rather to cultivate a network of supporters. In the ensuing months, our list of supporters swelled to over 1,100 people.
• The Dental Champions Advisory Board was established to oversee the Dental Champions program and increase alumni involvement in OHK.
• OHK began a weekly e-newsletter called the “Weekly Wednesday Update.”
• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka and OHK began a partnership to provide oral health education and career information to the children who are members of the Topeka clubs.

2010

• OHK launched a revitalized web site.

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