From the #deltadentalARFoundation: Too many Arkansans are facing daunting odds when trying to take care of their health: unsafe surroundings, inadequate access to fresh, healthy food, lack of educational resources, limited access to medical and dental care, and more.

Organizations like the Arkansas Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, Inc. (AMDPA) make a difference.

The association has advocated for the healthcare needs of underserved and impoverished Arkansans for almost 130 years. It was launched in 1893 by African-American physicians, dentists and pharmacists concerned about the poor state of health of many Black Arkansans and the refusal of white doctors to attend to those needs. 

Now, thanks in part to a #CommunityGrant from the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, it is starting a new chapter. 

It plans to build a diverse, representative oral health and wellness equity coalition to identify strategies 

* to improve oral and overall health and
* to expand healthcare services and opportunities in low-income communities.
 
While it will be the first coalition of its kind in Arkansas, the link between oral health and overall wellness is not new. “Prior to about 1900, and especially in rural counties, doctors did everything,” explains AMDPA Executive Director Derek Lewis.
 
Medical care began to fragment into specialties in the 20th century, but recently, there has been “a revival of bringing oral health back as a subset of medicine, rather than a stand-alone specialty,” Mr. Lewis notes. 

In partnership with organizations like the Arkansas Black Mayors Association, the coalition is hosting listening sessions and town hall meetings across the state to determine the most pressing needs of communities. The data will be collected and analyzed to create a road map of how to remove barriers to healthcare for underserved Arkansans. 

We at the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation love to support this kind of collaborative project that seeks to achieve systemic change to enhance the oral health of Arkansans! If you are planning similar initiatives, we invite you to apply for one of our grants here or contact us via email or phone to learn more.

 

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