Oral health is a matter of equity and justice.
COHEC is a grassroots movement led by low-income BIPOC, Tribal, and other marginalized communities working to bring dental therapy to California—because everyone deserves access to quality, affordable, and culturally relevant oral health care. Learn more and join the movement: cohec.org
We continue to share how dental therapy can increase oral health equity in California. 🗞️
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El Observador, a bilingual publication serving the San Jose community and beyond, featured our grassroots effort to advance oral health equity in California. Read and share the story with the link in our bio! 🔗
At COHEC, our grassroots movement is fueled by the lived experiences of Californians who know that the current oral health care system isn't working for everyone.
Elizabeth Zaragoza, M.D., Director of Health Systems Development at the California Rural Indian Health Board (CRIHB) and member of COHEC, highlights exactly why we are fighting to bring dental therapy to California.
Join our community-driven campaign to advance oral health equity.
Representing COHEC, Doctor Angela Gallegos-Castillo recently appeared on the Spanish-language network, Univision, to speak about recent UCSF briefs that show persistent gaps in California's oral health access and how dental therapy could help bridge them.
As noted in the UCSF briefs, 72% of Latinx children have experienced tooth decay, compared to 40% of white children. These racial disparities occur because the California oral care system lacks the diversity and flexibility needed to reach all communities. Dental therapists are licensed professionals who can provide culturally competent care where communities need it the most.
Learn more about dental therapy:
SCOPE's Senior Health Justice Associate, Sofia Garcia George will be presenting this Thursday on how California Oral Health Equity Coalition (COHEC) is looking to advance oral health access and equity across California.
UPCOMING WEBINAR:
Stakeholders: Advancing Oral Health Equity California
Thurs, May 7th @ 9-10am PT
@visionycompromiso , in collaboration with the @cohec_ca , invite you to join a webinar next week covering:
👉 Oral health inequities throughout history
👉 The need for affordable & accessible oral health services for underserved communities
👉 Access to linguistically & culturally competent services
👉 The key role of stakeholders in advancing oral health equity in California
👉 What is COHEC and how you can learn more
Register here:
/stakeholders-advancing-oral-health-equity-in-california/
Reshare • @americandentaltherapy
UPCOMING WEBINAR:
Stakeholders: Advancing Oral Health Equity California
Thurs, May 7th @ 9-10am PT
@visionycompromiso , in collaboration with the @cohec_ca , invite you to join a webinar next week covering:
👉 Oral health inequities throughout history
👉 The need for affordable & accessible oral health services for underserved communities
👉 Access to linguistically & culturally competent services
👉 The key role of stakeholders in advancing oral health equity in California
👉 What is COHEC and how you can learn more
Register here:
/stakeholders-advancing-oral-health-equity-in-california/
Join us for a vital conversation on the future of oral health equity!
We are joining the California Rural Indian Health Board in hosting a full-day virtual convening dedicated to advancing dental therapy in California.
What is Dental Therapy? It’s a community-centered model designed to expand access to essential care in underserved and rural areas. By empowering trained, licensed practitioners to provide preventive and restorative care, we can bridge the gap in oral health disparities for all communities.
🗓 Date: June 16, 2026
🕗 Time: 8 AM – 3 PM
📍 Location: Online
Hear from clinical staff, clinic leadership, and rese I
Please see the attached draft agenda for more details
🔗 Register today at the link in our bio!
We are proud to see COHEC member and @scope_la Senior Health Justice Associate, Sofia Garcia-George, featured in the San Fernando Valley Sun. Sofia breaks down the urgent need for California to authorize dental therapists to close the widening gap in oral health access.
The data is clear: in 2022 alone, California children missed over 869,000 school days due to dental issues. By integrating dental therapists into dentist-led teams, we can provide a more affordable, flexible, and equitable model of care for all Californians.
Read the full article to learn how COHEC and our partners are advocating for systemic change:https://bit.ly/3QtX3L5
Dental therapist Victoria C. is passionate about her career path which allows her to make a meaningful impact in her community.
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By building pipelines for professionals from diverse backgrounds, dental therapy ensures that patients see themselves reflected in providers like Victoria. This builds trust and improves patient outcomes.
Learn more about why dental therapy is a promising career pathway by visiting us at cohec.org
Learn about our grassroots campaign to advance oral health care equity in California. 📣
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Our state is facing a crisis in oral health care, but we have a proven solution to address these gaps in care. Join our community meeting to learn about our community-led effort to bring dental therapy to California. ✨
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This virtual meeting is open to all, register with the link in our bio! 🔗
Communities deserve better access to oral health care.
The recent story from @CalMatters highlights the heartbreaking reality for families like Pat Hornbecker’s. Her son waited years for basic oral health care, leading to painful extractions and emergency surgeries that could have been prevented. Read the story here: https://bit.ly/4vddbjT
With proposed $1B budget cuts looming, these wait times will only get longer as more dentists are forced to leave the program. This is concerning because California already has a maldistribution of dentists impacting BIPOC, Tribal, and low-income communities across the state.
COHEC stands for a future where everyone has access to quality oral health care. Learn more about our work by visiting cohec.org
This National Minority Health Month, DHF is proud to stand with the California Oral Health Equity Coalition (COHEC) to champion dental therapy as a solution for racial and economic justice.
Together, we’re breaking down barriers!
En Español:
En este Mes Nacional de la Salud de las Minorías, DHF se enorgullece de unirse a la Coalición para la Equidad en la Salud Bucal de California (COHEC) para promover la terapia dental como una solución para la justicia racial y económica.
Juntos, estamos derribando barreras.
🔗 Learn more and follow @cohec_ca for updates!
#NationalMinorityHealthMonth #OralHealthEquity #DentalTherapy #HealthJustice
