On May 14, Eastern Washington University's (EWU) dental hygiene program celebrated five decades of excellence and service to the community. Over the years, the dental hygiene program has proudly educated generations of dental hygiene professionals while operating a clinic that provides quality care for less-advantaged residents of our community. Here's a quick look back at their history!
Read MoreTopics: Participatory budgeting; BH legislative update
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for April 21, 2022.
Read MoreTopics: Reimagining the forum - designing equity guiding principles; setting the stage for participatory budgeting; BH legislative update preview
Read MorePeople who earn less than $17,775 a year are eligible to enroll in Apple Health (Medicaid) insurance, which covers dental care. Unfortunately, that doesn't always mean they are able to access dental care they need. In fact, in Spokane in 2020, only 24% of adults with Apple Health saw a dentist. Smile Spokane’s Access Strategy seeks to close that gap and help more people get the care they need.
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for March 17, 2022.
Read MoreTopics: Reimagining the forum - designing fiscal guiding principles; HCA/Comagine BH performance measures study
Read MoreIn quarter 4 of 2021 the Collaborative worked to revise this Charter to be more inclusive and equitable regarding membership, participation, and group agreements. The document was also adapted to be more evergreen than the original, removing project specific language. This Charter has been approved at the February 17 Spokane Collaborative meeting.
Read MoreBeginning February 2022, independent evaluators from the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness (CHSE) at OHSU will be conducting a Medicaid-focused survey of select practices and hospitals. The survey is part of the independent evaluation of the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) being conducted for Washington’s federal 1115 Medicaid Waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Read MoreSpokane Regional Health District (SRHD) program staff helps eligible kids access ABCD-certified dentists by providing case management and technical assistance. If a child has Apple Health (Medicaid), they are eligible to receive services through the ABCD program.
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for February 17, 2022.
Read MoreWe want to celebrate our Sealants Strategy in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month! Tooth pain and cavities can make kids more likely to miss school and more likely to earn below-average grades. Luckily, Communities in Schools Spokane County and ToothSavers of Washington have partnered with Smile Spokane to provide sealants to kids in elementary schools. When we prevent cavities, kids stay in school, focused on achieving good grades, which supports their long-term success in life.
Read MoreTopics: Reimagining the Forum - shifting governance & 2022 context setting
Read MoreLearn about the Spokane Collaborative! Includes overviews of the Collaborative and Equity work, membership & leadership team lists, outreach & new member guides.
Read MoreSpokane Collaborative meeting materials for November 18, 2021.
Read MoreAs 2021 closes, BHT still has approximately $1.5 million of IMC funds to allocate. At the September BH Forum, partners discussed how they would like to see us use the IMC funds over the next two years. At the November Board meeting, the Board approved allocation for the remaining IMC funds toward behavioral health initiatives in 2022-23.
Read MoreWith the global pandemic upon us in early 2021 and the disparities in health care becoming glaringly obvious, Smile Spokane started an equity project in partnership with CHAS Health community health workers (CHW), with the support of the Arcora Foundation. The project focused on the oral health needs of Spokane’s Marshallese community members.
Read MoreNovember is Diabetes Awareness Month. Good oral health is especially important for people with diabetes, who are 3x more likely to have gum disease. As part of Smile Spokane’s Care Coordination Strategy, Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington connects people with diabetes to oral health providers who take Apple Health Medicaid. Accessing dental services helps people with diabetes manage the health of their mouth.
Read MoreOctober is LGBTQIA+ History Month, an opportunity to reflect on the work and sacrifice of LGBTQIA+ advocates and leaders that have changed the course of our history for our country and globally.
In 1994 a gay high school teacher, Rodney Wilson, and some LGBTQIA+ community members founded LGBTQIA+ History Month with the hopes of giving LGBTQIA+ kids a chance to learn their history and see themselves represented. National Coming Out Day is also observed on October 11 and is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people to speak their truths and be supported.
Since the Stonewall riots, which created the foundation for what we now call Pride Parade, the fight for equality has come a long way, but we have so much more to do.
In the last few years, we have seen the rights of LGBTQIA+ people attacked locally and nationwide legislatively. Trans athletes have been targeted; the right to access to healthcare, education, and other human rights are being challenged by our courts.
Reflecting on the work of those who fought for justice and equity throughout history is one meaningful way we can remain steadfast in our work as advocates and reflect on LGBTQIA+ history. It reminds us that the fight for equity and inclusion is one of hope.
We hope you’ll join us and take time to learn more about and share your favorite LGBTQIA+ historical figure with your community is a great way to honor LGBTQIA+ History Month.
