Have a Heart for Kids Day 2019
Join us for an energizing and powerful day of action! Including:
Health Care - Oral Health
2020 Legislative Agenda
At Children’s Alliance, we believe every child can thrive in a world rich with opportunity. We partner with public officials, parents and community leaders to create strategies that help kids overcome the barriers of racism and poverty.
Dental Therapy works for Washington
Dental Therapy is working for Washington’s tribal communities. Lawmakers should take action to bring make this provider available statewide. Take action now.
Results for Kids in the 2019 Legislative Session
Working with parents, policymakers and community leaders from across Washington state, Children’s Alliance advances public policies that address the barriers of poverty and racism in order to give every child the opportunities they deserve. In the 2019 session, our advocacy produced the following results:
Opportunity for every child
These areas are the product of systemic racial oppression both past and present: the interplay of policies, practices, and pernicious stereotypes that have deprived families of color while inordinately enriching white households. But these systems can change—with the joint work of government, engaged parents and community leaders.
COFA Dental Coverage: Senate Bill 5274
The 2019 Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 5274, establishing a COFA Islander Dental Care program. This new bipartisan law makes no-cost dental coverage available to adults from Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations residing in Washington, who are income-eligible for Medicaid (below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level).
NEW POLL: WASHINGTON VOTERS SUPPORT DENTAL THERAPY
Washington voters support the Legislature authorizing dental therapy this year, according to a statewide poll released today by the Washington Dental Access Campaign.
The state legislature is currently considering House Bill 1317, a measure that would allow dental therapists to practice and be trained in Washington state.
The poll, conducted by Patinkin Research Strategies March 7-11, shows 62 percent of Washington voters in support of dental therapy to provide routine, preventive oral health care.
Dental Coverage for Pacific Islanders in Washington
PDF version: English or Marshallese
NEW BILL WOULD INCREASE ACCESS TO ORAL HEALTH CARE BY AUTHORIZING DENTAL THERAPISTS
OLYMPIA—Legislators have a solution to Washington state’s shortage of oral health providers: authorize dental therapists to work all across the state.
Questions to Ask Candidates for the Washington State Legislature
State lawmakers can take important steps to improve kids’ lives in the 2019 state legislative session. Candidates for the Washington state legislature will make critical choices for our kids if they are elected in November. Their choices can help kids have great childhoods and grow up strong, and advance racial equity and opportunity for all our kids.
Children’s Alliance 2018 Annual Meeting
Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; program 9-10:30 a.m.
2017 Legislative Review
Every child in our state should have the opportunity to thrive: a quality education supported by parents and community from cradle to career; enough healthy food to eat each day; and access to comprehensive, affordable health care that optimizes their well-being.
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Smile survey reveals persistent disparities in access to oral health care
Tooth decay is a preventable disease that has serious consequences, and too many children are suffering for lack of care—especially children of color, kids in low-income households, and kids living in homes where English is not the primary language. Poor oral health hurts the physical and psychological well-being of children, as the report notes. As state data has previously shown, lack of access to timely care is a particular concern for families in communities of color.
Kids’ policy progress report
It’s a little past the midpoint of the 2017 legislative session. Every legislative session contains numerous opportunities to advance good policies for kids. Here’s how Children’s Alliance’s legislative priorities and additional issues we are working on have fared.
Towards improving oral health equity in Washington
PHOTO: Children's Alliance deputy director Jon Gould stands with Brian Cladoosby, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community chairman and president of the National Congress of American Indians, at the state capitol today. Advocates were present to witness the signing of Senate Bill 5079, which recognizes the right of Tribal governments to hire dental therapists.
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Good news for kids: Dental Access Bill moves forward
The nationwide momentum for greater access to dental care surged forward today in Washington state: House Bill 1364, the Dental Access bill, passed a major hurdle in the House of Representatives, emerging from the House Health Care & Wellness Committee.
Advocates demand access to oral health care
In far too many parts of our state, for far too many families, oral health care is out of reach.
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Pass the Dental Access Bill: House Bill 1364 / Senate Bill 5224
Dental therapists can make dental care accessible.
Dental therapists work as part of the dental team to provide routine and preventive care.
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Dental Therapists: Good for Oral Health, Good for Washington
FACT: Dental therapists will work within a narrowly defined scope of practice to provide important and needed routine and preventive care to Washingtonians who currently can’t get it.
Our 2017 Legislative Agenda
The Children’s Alliance creates our annual Legislative Agenda with the aid of a racial equity policy analysis, so that our efforts address disparities facing children and families in communities of color.
Early Learning
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