Page 3 - Lifelong Smiles Coalition Evaluation - Sept2020

LIFELONG SMILES - THE GENESIS

The fact that Iowa ranks high among states with an the Coalition can quickly react and respond to issues
aging population was already well known. However, and opportunities as needed.
the extent to which access to oral healthcare was Once the structure was established, the Delta Dental
limited, the systemic barriers that impact access, and of Iowa Foundation staff purposely began to back away
the reasons oral health should be a higher priority with from the leadership role so that Coalition leadership
this population were less known, especially outside and members were empowered to truly lead the
the traditional oral health community. The Delta Dental Coalition. The Foundation’s role evolved into a
of Iowa Foundation board members knew that using backbone organization to support the coalition’s work.
data to tell the story was an important part of laying The Lifelong Smiles Coalition held their first meeting
the groundwork to build support for a broad-based early in 2014.
and long-term effort. To accomplish this, the board
facilitated a Collective Impact process. Why focus on oral health for older Iowans?

Over the course of 2012-13, an Educate, Motivate, Poor oral health can affect the ability to chew,
and Activate methodology was utilized to create the swallow, and speak and contributes to malnutrition,
context around which the Lifelong Smiles Coalition inflammation, and self-esteem. Older Iowans residing
formed. This process sought to ensure a group of in nursing facilities and homebound settings may also
engaged stakeholders understood the issues and have immunocompromised systems and challenges
were armed with strategies to address them. To accessing care.
formulate the Coalition structure, an additional, ad hoc Although there is a strong correlation between poor
committee was formed to consider governance needs, oral health and systemic conditions, Iowa lacks a
membership, and policies. This later became the coordinated system of oral health care for older adults.
Steering Committee, which remains in place to ensure

Collective Impact Process Utilized to Establish the Lifelong Smiles Coalition

EDUCATE MOTIVATE ACTIVATE
• Conducted a needs • Identified issues • Developed collective
assessment • Narrowed into themes action plan
• Included state and • Established committees • Need for coalition
national experts emerged
• Convened stakeholders

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES
• Steering committee • Education and Training
established • Coordination and Outreach
• Governance, membership • Program Policy and
policies developed Reimbursement

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